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Oil rig fire
By RYAN FIRKEL
Era Reporter
Local fire departments, oil companies and water companies combined forces to combat a blaze at an oil drilling rig late Thursday night in a remote wooded area off Interstate Parkway near the New York state line.
No injuries were reported when the Dallas-Morris Drilling Inc. rig caught fire at about 11:10 p.m. Thursday. Local fire departments and industry workers were on the scene until just after 4 a.m. Friday.
Chief Dan Burkhouse of the Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department said the fire was accidental in nature and the cause was undetermined.
Dallas-Morris officials had no comment other than to say there were no injuries or any environmental impact.
Fire officials said that the rig, which was a large stationary truck, caught fire when several workmen were present. Workers then called local fire departments for assistance. There was extensive damage to the rig and the fire is under investigation by both Dallas-Morris and their insurance company.
Burkhouse said, “We were dispatched in response to a gas-flow/drilling fire,” which on arrival could be seen rising up the 30-foot mast on the rig. The fire was also burning deep in the gas well.
An initial attempt to douse the blaze was made while the rig still in drilling position. Because of the rural location, fire departments and personnel had to set up pumps at a nearby displaced sand and water pumping pit, originally used in drilling techniques. About 100 pounds of chemical fire extinguishers were also used in the initial attempt to stop the fire — but failed, said Burkhouse.
A second attempt was established within two hours with local water services assisting. Once the fire in the well was extinguished at 4:10 a.m. Friday, Dallas-Morris employees capped off the well, stopping the gas flow, said Burkhouse. In the process of putting out the oil fire, approximately 10,000 gallons of water and 120 pounds of dry chemical extinguishers were used, said Burkhouse.
Responding to the scene were 20 firefighters and three fire engines and a utility truck from Bradford Township; six firefighters and a utility pumper from Lewis Run; six firefighters and a utility pumper from Derrick City; six firefighters and a tanker from Corydon Township and one representative from McKean County Emergency Management Agency.
Assistance and additional support also came from Dallas-Morris, the American Refining Group and local well and water service business including Universal Well Services, H20 Water Service, McGee and McGee Water Services, Kinzua Water Service and Universal Water Service.
“All of the fire departments and other personnel worked very well together,” said Burkhouse. “There was very good communication in the efforts against the fire and it worked to our advantage.”
Oil rig fires tend to be smoky and sooty and might cause some respiratory ailments for those in the immediate area, said Department of Environmental Protection Assistant Regional Director Jim Rozakis. “Usually in these fires long term effects are minimal; comparable to a house fire.”
The DEP also responded to the fire through their emergency response network and is currently investigating on the extent of the environmental impact, said Rozakis.
Dallas-Morris was recently investigated in the alleged illegal discharge of industrial wastewater onto Allegany National Forest land in Corydon Township. The wastewater, or brine, had an considerate concentration of salt that caused damage to ANF ecosystems.
As of early November, both civil and criminal charges were pending from the ANF on Dallas-Morris employees as a result of the illegal discharge.
According to the ANF the dumping of industrial wastewater resulted in the mortality of $25,000 worth of public timber and the civil reconstruction of the lands affected. In compliance with the charges also spurred Dallas-Morris to conduct an internal investigation.
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