Monahans, Texas – Following a pipeline explosion that ignited a massive fire in Ward County, the Monahans Volunteer Fire Department quickly sprang into action alongside other fire departments. However, upon arrival at the scene, the firefighters were faced with a challenging wait to let the fire burn out naturally.
Assistant Fire Chief John Bell described the daunting task, stating, “There’s no way to put really those out, you just have to let them burn themselves out.” The process involved shutting off gas valves on either side of the fire, allowing the excess gas to burn off before firefighters could safely approach the area to extinguish any remaining hotspots.
The duration of the wait depended on the intensity of the blaze, with Bell acknowledging that it could span hours or even days based on various factors such as the pipeline size and gas volume. Once the fire had consumed most of the gas, firefighters could then tackle the remaining blaze like a standard structure fire to prevent further spread.
After approximately six hours of waiting for the fire to subside, the gas company deemed it safe for firefighters to approach the equipment and commence extinguishing the remaining hotspots. Bell shared that they spent about three and a half to four hours dealing with the aftermath, including extinguishing a burning office building and a portable trailer.
Meanwhile, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality confirmed that the pipelines were shut down, and the fire department conducted air monitoring to assess the situation. Fortunately, TCEQ assistance was deemed unnecessary as the firefighters successfully managed the fire.
In summary, the Monahans Volunteer Fire Department’s response to the pipeline explosion and subsequent fire exemplified their dedication and expertise in handling such challenging situations. Their coordinated efforts, alongside other departments and authorities, ensured the safety of the community and swiftly brought the situation under control.