Refinery Fire: Blaze Erupts on New York’s Staten Island

02/21/2003 | AP, Reuters

[Woodman]

NEW YORK (AP) - An explosion rocked an oil refinery on the edge of Staten Island, sending black smoke and flames hundreds of feet into the air.

"We have a preliminary report that tanker was transferring a product or was being fueled and somehow ignited," Fire Department Chief William Van Wart said.

It wasn't immediately clear whether any of the dozens of oil tanks in the area were burning.

FBI spokesman Steve Kodak in Newark, N.J., said there was no indication of terrorism. However, FBI officials in Washington said they were still examining it because a refinery is the type of infrastructure terrorists might target.

The explosion, which could be heard several miles away, occurred at the edge of Port Mobile, near the Outerbridge Crossing that links the island to Woodbridge, N.J., in the southwestern part of Staten Island, said a spokeswoman for the Staten Island borough office.

It was reported shortly after 10 a.m., according to a spokeswoman for the New York Fire Department. No injuries were immediately reported.

City officials said residents were not in immediate danger.

"At this point, people should not take any special precautions. It's unlikely this could spread to a residential area," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said shortly after the fire was reported.

Reuters:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A fuel barge caught fire near an oil storage terminal off New York's Staten Island on Friday, but the immediate cause of the blaze was not known, fire officials said.

Law enforcement officials said there were no initial indications that it was anything other than an accident.

U.S. Coast Guard officials said the facility was owned by Exxon Mobil, the world's largest oil company.

Initial reports from fire officials described the barge as carrying propane.

Residents of the New York borough and nearby towns in New Jersey said they heard an explosion and felt the ground and houses shake.

"A barge was being refueled and it somehow caught fire," Fire Chief William Van Ward of the New York Fire Department said on local WNBC-TV.

The explosion and fire, in the waterway known as Arthur Kill between Staten Island and New Jersey, sent huge clouds of black smoke and flames into the sky that could be seen from Manhattan.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or on the extent of the damage, officials said.

"There was a loud explosion like something fell on our house," Reuters reporter Rene Pastor said from Perth Amboy, New Jersey. "We rushed out and saw thick black smoke in the air, with flames shooting up into the sky."

[Dog]

Stop with the jokes until we find out what is going on here..

[finnman69]

holy crap II ma looking south from Midtown and there is a HUGE cloud.

[Mad Dawgg]

Just showed it on CNN BIG ASS FIRE!

[Woodman]

It's on CNN Now

[Think free or die]

MSNBC reporting now. Hess refinery.

[Cagey]

Fox is saying it is a "huge refinery fire"..

[Dog]

Fire on CNN....Oil refinery fire....on Staten Island!!!!!!

[Mad Dawgg]

FR does it again Scoops the Networks

[hellinahandcart]

Bloomberg just said on radio that a refueling barge near the outerbridge may have caught fire and led to an explosion.

Burning confined to Port Mobil (sp?), no injuries reported yet.

[Aura]

It is a refinery fire on Staten Island. It is breaking news on CBS. Looks huge! Mostly on the water.

[CatoRenasci]

WCBS Radio reporting huge fire and explosion Southwest Staten Island/Arthur Kill oil tank farms, black smoke, flames about 100yds x 100yds. Fire trucks trying to respond, not yet close per the helicopter reporters. Burning mostly over the water.

[finnman69]

Locan radio WABC radio Saying a barge on fire.

[mr.pink]

Film on Fox now. Amazing.

[Cagey]

Near the Outerbridge crossing. Southern end of Staten Island.

[RummyChick]

says out of control and weather making it spread according to fox

[dirtboy]

Well, this will tack another couple of dimes onto the price of gas.

[Woodman]

I think it may be on the NJ Side but not sure.. I thought the refinery on SI was closed.

[AppyPappy]

Is the barge near the pumping stations?

[AppyPappy]

ping