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."

[Principled]

How did you hear about it? TV? Radio?....I've heard nothing.

[OXENinFLA]

Any more details?

[hellinahandcart]

No, did you just hear something out your window? I am in Manhattan. Heard nothing.

[AppyPappy]

Another report

[hellinahandcart]

Elizabeth is full of tank farms.

Nothing on radio yet, I am listening to WABC.

[Woodman]

Heard it thought me roof was caving in from the snow. Went outside and can see a huge black cload over that direction. Have no other info.

[P.O.E.]

Yes, just about 12-15 minutes ago

[Principled]

thanks for the link AP

[P.O.E.]

Yes, just about 12-15 minutes ago

[Mad Dawgg]

Well if there is a Dog on the Ice near there then we will have wall to wall coverage.

Are you talking about the Night club fire? If so that happened last night (They are talking about it right now on FOX)

[Diddle E. Squat]

Shut the hell up. Save the damn jokes until you know if there is a real emergency or not.

[mhking]

That's down the road a bit from Ft. Lee - anything out of CNBC/MSNBC?

[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

[ewing]

For a moment there I thought it was those three Iraqi ships that have been sailing around with supposed WMD for some time

[CDHart]

Neal Boortz just mentioned it -- 9:29 a.m. CST -- no further info.

[Dog]

Its a HUGE fire..

[finnman69]

Verazzano bridge now shut down

[Think free or die]

MSNBC reporting incidents on Staten Island and also Woodbridge. Not clear to them yet whether it's one incident or two due to haze and smoke. Several refineries and shipping channels in the area.

[hellinahandcart]

They have just closed the Verrazano due to smoke.

[Dog]

Have it your way....I won't argue.

[Woodman]

Got to be the outer bridge crossing not the VN.

[kjam22]

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

Yep... probably a conspiracy by the big bad oil companies don't you know :)

It will give those wackos in California that were protesting gas prices on the news the other day some more "fuel" for their fire.

[hellinahandcart]

I guess so, they said it was "refeuling".