When there’s a large industrial plant fire with no injuries, loss of life, and minimal damage to property you can say it was a good day, as well as a good fire fighting operation. This is my opinion after reading several news reports concerning an emergency fire response. Such was the case at the Minnesota Soybean Processor Biodiesel Plant that had a fire in Brewster MN this past Memorial weekend on May 23, 2008. This processing plant processes 35 million bushels of soybean and makes roughly 30 million gallons of biodiesel fuel a year.
The fire at this facility was reported at around 10:00 pm that Saturday night by the plant employees by dialing 911. After reading several news articles on the incident it became apparent the fire fighting operation conducted to contain and extinguish the fire was due to good training, as well as good community relations with surrounding fire departments. According to a press release from Nobles County Emergency Management: “More than 20 fire and law enforcement agencies from three counties in Minnesota and one Iowa county responded with assistance.” Between 100 to 200 fire fighters and emergency services personnel were involved in making the community safe.
Brewster MN residence living in close proximity were told to evacuated with a one mile cordon established around the processing plant. All those residents that evacuated were able to return back to their homes at 1:00 am Sunday morning.
Only real damage as a result of the fire was on a biodiesel and soybean oil storage tanks. The cause of the fire was not determined and is under investigation. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal is conducting the fire investigation.
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) offers to those in the industry as well as local fire officers and fire departments some tips on how to handle the rare fires involving biodiesel.
This NBB press release along with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) have cooperated for more then a year preparing and distribute safety training materials:
“With a flash point of 200 degrees, biodiesel is the safest fuel to handle, store and use,” said NBB CEO Joe Jobe. “MnSP is certified as a BQ-9000 producer, the industry’s voluntary quality control program, so they were very well prepared to handle any safety issue.”
NBB has posted the new “Biodiesel: Response Considerations” safety resource on its web site and is mailing copies to NBB producer members to work with their local fire departments. The IAFC will distribute 2700 copies to fire departments and at events, like the International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference held this week near Baltimore.
“The Biodiesel Response Considerations training program provides the critical information First Responders and Haz Mat Response Teams need for a safe and competent response,” said Captain Steve Hergenreter of Fort Dodge, Iowa. “It includes information on the chemicals involved in production, along with information on the properties of biodiesel. Whether preplanning a facility or responding to one, understanding these chemical and physical properties ensures a response based on facts, science and circumstances.”
Here's a two very good NBB YouTube videos on “Biodiesel: Response Considerations”...
PART ONE:
PART TWO:
It is worth repeating also, the making of biodiesel fuels has become more common place to where it’s not just out on the farm where this alternative fuel source is being made; it could and has been made in the home. There are no real restrictions in making biodiesel for the most part other then maybe the quantity.
“You won’t find a rule anywhere that says you can’t cook biodiesel in your garage,” said Bob Benedetti who works for the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass as a flammable liquids engineer.
There could be stockpiled items such as tanks & barrels of materials at a home garage or out on a farm. Storage of biodiesel on a farm could range anywhere from 200-300 gallons in plastic containers if not more. Fire fighters need to be aware of this potentially hazardous material when responding to a fire call that a heavy column of dark black smoke is coming from a home residence in the community or reported barn fire. Once large quantities of biodiesel get burning there’s going to be one very hot fire and will make for a bad day.
Today’s local fire departments, emergency services, and law enforcement need to pre-plan and practice for any type of biodiesel fuel incident, be it small or big, that could occur if processing is taking place in the local community of this alternative fuel source. Being prepared is always the better option.
If there are any updated information concerning the Minnesota Soybean Processor Biodiesel Plant fire in Brewster MN as to the actual cause of the fire or any other follow-up information, I will post it here at the TFPFP Blog.
Source: NBB, IAFC, DOMESTICFUEL.COM, The Daily Globe, Nobles County Review, StarTribune.com, KSFY.com
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
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