8/26/2008

A man received serious burns this morning at a local bulk fuel storage facility when a flash fire erupted.  Chattanooga firefighters at Station 6 on Bonny Oaks learned of the incident around 7:30 a.m. when someone drove up and told them that there was a fire at Benton Oil Service on Bonny Oaks Drive.  Battalion Chief Ben Biggs confirmed that the fire could be seen by passing motorists on Highway 153.  Chief Biggs said the fire was located in a pool of rainwater on the back lot of Benton Oil.  On top of the rainwater was some type of petroleum-based product.  Despite the heavy rain, the petroleum-fueled fire showed no signs of stopping, but Chattanooga firefighters eventually put the fire out.

While the firefighters were working to extinguish the fire, they were led to an adult male who appeared to be suffering from serious burns.  The firefighters provided some initial care to the victim, and then handed him off to paramedics with Hamilton County EMS, who rushed him to Erlanger Medical Center.  The victim was later identified as 42-year-old Craig Fuqua of Ringgold, Georgia.  Chattanooga fire investigators say that Mr. Fuqua sustained 2nd degree burns to both legs and his right arm.  The victim was transported to Erlanger Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition. 

Chattanooga fire investigators are trying to figure out what happened.  They were told that the worker was using a pump to draw water away from some underground storage tanks.  The initial investigation shows that he was not pumping water.  Rather, he was pumping a petroleum-based liquid out onto the ground.  Despite the heavy rain, the vapors from the petroleum found an ignition source, which in turn caused a flash fire.

The fire department's hazardous materials team was called to the scene because the petroleum runoff posed a hazard to the environment.  Captain Danny Hague with the department's Tactical Services division said the firefighters placed absorbent pads and containment booms around the site in an effort to keep as much of the product as they could from getting into a nearby ditch, which was full of rainwater that was draining into the nearby Friar's Branch.  An environmental cleanup company was also called in to assist with the haz-mat team with the cleanup.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.  The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has also  joined in the investigation.

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