Two killed in Minnesota oil fire

Source: Exec Digital Canada

Date :11/29/2007 6:23:32 AM

A fire erupted at a pipeline carrying crude oil from Canada to the Midwest on yesterday, killing two workers who were repairing it, authorities said.

The workers were fixing the underground pipeline when fumes apparently escaped and ignited the blaze, said Kristine Chapin, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety.

No other injuries were reported. The Clearwater County Sheriff's Department said it expected the fire to continue through the night before burning itself out.

The fire along the Enbridge Energy pipeline in northern Minnesota was reported shortly before 4 p.m., the Sheriff's Department said. The oil that spilled was expected to burn and not pose any major problems.

Under repair

The 34-inch pipeline carries crude oil from Saskatchewan to the Chicago area, Chapin said. The pipe had leaked a few weeks ago and was being fixed, she said.

"It appears as though one of those fittings may have failed and caused fumes to leak, and it caught fire," Chapin said. She said there wasn't an explosion and described it as a "big fire."

Nearby residents were evacuated because of the thick black smoke in the sparsely populated area.

Denise Hamsher, a spokeswoman for Houston-based Enbridge Energy, confirmed late Wednesday that the workers who died were employed by the company. Their names were not immediately released.

The pipeline that leaked and four others were shut down, though it wasn't clear for how long, Hamsher said. Because oil is stored in company stations along the line and at refineries, the pipelines could be shuttered for several days without causing disruptions in oil supplies to the Midwest, she said.

Making safe

"Right now, we are securing the site and making sure that we are dealing with our employees and doing whatever we can to offer the families (of the victims) whatever assistance they need," Hamsher said. "Tomorrow we'll have a better idea of the duration and timing of the repairs."

The crude oil is used to make several kinds of fuel, such as gasoline and heating oil for homes.

Clearbrook is about 215 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

November 29, 2007