Cayman Islands: Fire at Rubis Terminal – ALL CLEAR
ALL CLEARFire Officers have extinguished the fire at the Sol Fuel distribution centre on South Church Street.
The “all clear” was issued shortly after 2:45 a.m. Monday (24 July) and residents were advised that they can safely return to their homes.
The officers fought the fire for over eight hours. An Esso technician reported the fire around 4:44 p.m. Sunday (23 July) and at 5:10 p.m. Acting Station Officer Colbert Miller ordered to conduct an emergency evacuation within a half-mile radius of the scene. A 1,000-foot exclusion zone also was established, blocking several roads in the area.
The fire raged inside a tank holding 14,000 barrels of diesel fuel.
“We should all be proud of the response from our firefighters and other first responders today,” Chief Fire Officer David Hails said in a statement. “They did a great job and all worked together under challenging circumstances. I am also pleased to report there were no injuries. This was a potentially dangerous fire involving a large quantity of fuel, and our first responders did what needed to be done to keep the public safe.”
A unified command post was established at Sunset House, and included HMCI staff, Fire Services officers, EMS, Police, Sol, and the Chief Petroleum Inspector.
CIFS and RCIPS investigators continue looking into what caused the fire.
Fire officers will remain on the scene throughout the night as a precautionary watch.
Joint Emergency Services Team Respond to Fuel Fire
The Cayman Islands Fire Service (CIFS) continue to work rigorously to combat a fire that ignited inside a fuel tank at Sol Petroleum Cayman Ltd. at the Jackson Point fuel terminal.
An Esso technician reported the fire to 911 at 4:44 p.m. this afternoon (Sunday, 23 July 2017), and the CIFS arrived on scene shortly after.
Fire officers assessed the scene and the risks, and at 5:10 p.m. Acting Station Officer Colbert Miller gave the order to conduct an emergency evacuate a half-a-mile radius from scene in the interest of public safety.
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI), Sol management team and petroleum officers also responded to the scene.
A joint taskforce incident command has been set-up up at Sunset House off South Church Street.
Chief Fire Officer David Hails says officers have set-up a one thousand foot radius exclusion zone around the fuel terminal.
“Fire officers are currently taking every step and precaution possible to extinguish this fire as quickly and as safely as possible,” he explains. “We have all of the necessary equipment and means in place to handle the flames and we will continue to do so.”
Chief Hails adds that at this time, they are unable to say when community members will be able to return to their homes, but teams are diligently working to bring the area back to normal.
“We greatly appreciate the public’s cooperation during this time,” Chief Hails explains. “Putting out this fire is the goal, but the safety of the people in this community is our main concern. We will continue to work-hard and do whatever it takes to resolve the issue, and have residents back in their homes as soon as possible.”
Shortly after fire officers responded, the RCIPS initiated roadblocks in the surrounding area to keep the public away from any potential hazards.
At this time HMCI reports they have revised the exclusion zone and roadblocks to reduce the number of individuals that are affected, and have allowed some residents to return to their homes in certain areas.
Roadblocks will continue around South Church Street until otherwise noted. The public is asked to please avoid the area and take alternative routes.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by both the CIFS and RCIPS.
The Cayman Islands Government will continue to bring the public any updated information as it becomes available.
UPDATE:Police have reduced the size of the evacuation area, moving the South Church Street roadblock at Boilers Road as far back as Melmac Avenue.
The intersection of South Church and Melmac is less than half a mile from the Jackson Point terminal.
George Town residents are being evacuated from their homes after a possible tank fire near the oil terminal on South Church Street, according to a Cayman Islands Fire Services spokesperson.
Police shut down roads between South Sound Road at Walkers Road and South Church St., near Boilers Road due to what the RCIPS calls “suspicious smoke” near the oil terminal.
Hazard Management Cayman Islands officials also are responding to what they’re calling a “possible fire incident at one of the main wholesale fuel distributors on South Church Street.”
HCMI says police officers are evacuating residents in the surrounding area as a precaution and also restricting traffic into the area. The Red Cross Shelter on Huldah Avenue is being opened for residents in need of temporary accommodation and additional shelters may be opened if necessary.
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