While a contractor operator was hanging
down a removed pipe during the work of
relocating an Ethanol tank, there was
nobody on the ground to guide and catch
the pipe. It hit the handle of the purge valve
of the magnetic level gauge on the nearly
Ethanol tank. The valve was open and
Ethanol flew out. At the same time, another
contactor was welding a grounding wire
near by. The Ethanol caught fire.
Furthermore, a non-fireproof blanker was
used to cover the nearby tank, which caught
fire too.
The operators and safety staff fought the fire
rapidly. Since Ethanol continued running out,
the PAP supervisor went to close the valve
and succeeded. The fire was put out. But
the supervisor was burned on legs.