Tesoro refinery fire

Taken 6 minutes after my previous video, so about 8 minutes after the explosion. Shows fire at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, WA. Held my camera against telescope eyepiece.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• #refineryexplosion
• #Tesoro

[rerickson]

Like other refinery accidents, we'll eventually know - in detail- what went wrong. (For example, I've read all about the previous fatality, opening up the coker.) In the meantime, pointing fingers at Tesoro is just idle speculation, and doesn't really belong here. We have no idea yet what happened, other than that the crew had just finished maintenance and was reactivating a filter.

There's a benefit event this evening in Anacortes, and another on Sunday afternoon.

[rerickson]

I didn't see the explosion; it was a sharp thud that shook the house, like something very heavy falling on a hard floor. Perhaps 30 seconds after, I looked out back and saw a bright orange glow on the trees, so the fireball at the point must still have been substantial.

The fire seems to be out or minimal now; flames are only visible from a flare they use close to the ground.

[sprucewood57]

@3DSWEPED I did a shutdown at this refinery when it was Equilon, the operators in the unit we worked on were the best I have ever worked with. The female operator I worked with was fantastic as she was just so helpful to us workers doing the shutdown and I truly hope whether it was her or someone else who died in that fire that she is with our Lord Jesus along with the others who perished.

[juanalvy]

FUCK TESORO They're always giving money to lower regulations so crap like this happens. No on 23!

[hollowsephiroth]

I saw and heard the explosion back then. This friggin' sucked, especially for some of my classmates.

[selatik1]

The Tesoro refinery in Anacortes was cited last April (and initially fined $85,700) for 17 "SERIOUS" SAFETY VIOLATIONS that posed a RISK OF DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to workers, according to State OSHA. In a settlement agreement, however, State OSHA "deleted" 14 of the 17 serious citations & lowered the penalty to $12,250. Translation: Tesoro bribed State OSHA. 5 workers died. Corporations kill with impunity. The state renders aid.

[selatik1]

Tesoro bribed, people died.

[bffs4life1314]

My dad used to work there and tons of my family does.....i was so lucky no 1 of my family was there that day but many family friends were....but thank god they weren't in that building......

[zdar91]

You are correct 3DSWEPED. I work in a refinery as an operator and we are aware of the dangers that we face every day. We are very careful and we try to anticipate any problems that could happen when we do anything. Unfortunately, we can't prevent all accidents, even though we try our hardest. Having an explosion and/or fire really is the operators' worst nightmare.

[3DSWEPED]

My husband retired from that refinery 3 years ago. How sad. We will be praying for those injured, missing, and killed by this horrible disaster. Our prayers are with their families also. People don't realize how volitial the work at refineries can be. The men and women who do this work are very aware and careful. An explosion like this one is their worst nightmare. jer

[richjard]

Thanks for posting. I live about 2 miles away.