An intense fire occurred at the Delta Petroleum Bulk Storage site at Low Ground, Nevis on Friday evening 27th September 2007, at approximately 5:20 p.m. that eventually engulfed a fuel tanker and two of the bulk storage tanks. The fire required the full resources of the St. Kitts - Nevis Fire Services before it was finally brought under control after more than 1 hour of intense and heroics fire fighting by the men and women of the Fire Services (Nevis Division), along with volunteer firemen, community volunteers and Nevis Disaster Management Department personnel.
The fire shot flames more than 50 feet into the air with columns of thick black smoke. The Charlestown section of the St. Kitts - Nevis Fire Services responded with 2 Fire appliance but it was evident quite early that more resources would be required to quell the intense fire. Contact was made with the Fire Services at the Vance W. Amory International Airport and the Fire Tender was dispatched with the consent of the NASPA General Manager, resulting in the closure of the Airport to aircraft operations.
The arrival of the Airport fire tender brought about an eventual suppression of the fire using foam but not without occasional flare-ups. The determined and resolute and life risking efforts of the Fire personnel together with the numerous volunteers must be vigorous applauded. They surely risked their lives and health in assaulting the enormous fire which was in such close vicinity to storage tanks filled with various fuels, with LPG gas containers in close proximity. Heavy equipment operators also volunteered the use of their truck and backhoes to ensure that the fire remained suppressed by the application of sand.
The local radio stations assisted in broadcasting the appeal for assistance from the community.
The extremely hazardous situation would have escalated without the quick response from the Fire Services and the volunteers.
2 Delta employees were injured in the incident. |
