Wed, May 24 2000 10:52

Sydney Oil factory fire extinguished

Fire crews have managed to bring a blaze at the Caltex Oil refinery at Kurnell, in Sydney's south, under control.

The fire, which at its height could be seen from Cronulla, took an hour and a half to extinguish.

All planes flying within the vicinity of the refinery were diverted for the duration of the blaze.

New South Wales Fire Brigade's Ian Krimmer says the refinery's safety measures meant the blaze in a crude oil vat, was not as bad as it might have been.

"In areas where there is any threat of a leak, there are large pits areas or vats which will contain any spillage," he said.

"That's exactly what has happened here. It has been contained within the area.

"A fixed fire protection system around the vat activated immediately and contained the fire, but it did need the existence of 100 fire crews to finally extinguish the fire."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2000/05/item20000524225003_1.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), May 24, 2000