Posted on 02/21/2003 7:20:32 AM PST by Woodman
Edited on 02/21/2003 8:37:19 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
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."
Yes, already starting.
Mike Gallagher is reporting on his show that Crude Oil futures are already up $1.00 per barrel and rising.
I better top off my SUV this afternoon.
It's just a thought. Lots of new people are going to see the two threads.
Let me know when you get ahold of your sister.
Huge fire at N.Y.C. oil refinery Blaze might have started on barge at Staten Island complex
MSNBC STAFF AND WIRE REPORTSFIREBALLS COULD be seen as TV news helicopters aired live images of the fire.
NEW YORK, Feb. 21 ? A huge fire was burning Friday at an oil refinery on New York?s Staten Island. Intial reports said a barge had caught fire, starting a huge blaze that sent black smoke into the air, making it visible for miles.
Chief William Van Ward of the New York Fire Department said it appeared a barge had caught fire as it was refueling.
Van Ward said no reports of injuries had been received.
U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News that they have no information linking the explosions to terrorism.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This breaking news story will be updated as information becomes available.
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