[thackney]

Two and a half hours later one of the two major sources still flared up from time to time atop or behind one of the storage tanks, while the other fires appeared to have been brought under control and were venting. So, this event appeared to be something considerably more than just some flame and flare from one of the nozzles or vents in a planned unit restart gone awry.

You have more info of this event than I do so I could be way off base. But judging just from your descriptions, and the picture, and my experience in plants, that is flares.

I would say it was certainly not planned based upon your description, but a reaction to something gone wrong and multiple processes had to go to emergency flares. Look again at the last photo, there are 5 flares in emergency condition. It might take several hours for those to balance out the mass flow before they could shut down.

[WhiskeyX]

Yes, and it would also fit into the report there was supposed to be no damage sufficient to interfere with plant operations. Wait till the next safety meeting at the plant.... No doubt there will be a few things said at that meeting.

Normally I would have had one of my good cameras with a long zoom lens with me at 6PM, but left them behind that time to go to the Framer’s Market for just a few minutes. The pictures of the fires would have been impressive and memorable.