Los Pinos Fire Photos (9)

On November 28th, 2007 at approximately 0330 hours the Los Pinos Fire District (LPFD) was dispatched to an unknown type fire in the 3000 block of County Road 307. When he left his home, LPFD Chief Larry Behrens had a clear view of a large fire at the Williams Production Company’s Ignacio Gas Plant. Since the plant is protected by the Durango Fire & Rescue Authority, they were notified by radio of the fire and initiated a response. Chief Behrens and DFRA Deputy Chief Alan Clay arrived within minutes of each other. Chief Behrens established command and both chiefs began to assess the situation.

The workers at the gas plant had followed their emergency plan and started to “blow down” the plant on the way out to their evacuation point. After ascertaining that all of the plant workers were accounted for, other fire resources began to arrive. DFRA Battalion Chief Tony Harwig and I arrived shortly after and met with the other two chiefs to develop an incident action plan. The decision was made not to fight the fire until all of hazards in the area of the fire could be identified and assessed. Chief Harwig assumed command for the incident at this time.

As LPFD and DFRA units arrived they were staged along CR 307. As plant workers and the command staff worked at identifying hazards, Chiefs Harwig and Clay made an initial recon of the plant. The plant’s fire protection system was functioning, and a “wait and see” stance was taken as the information gathering continued. DFRA’s Regional Mobile Command Post arrived, followed shortly by DFRA Chief Dan Noonan. It appeared that the plant’s cooling tower and a number of other structures inside the facility were burning.

A reverse 9-1-1 was instigated by Chief Harwig requesting a half-mile evacuation of area homes and the LaPlata County Office of Emergency Management was notified of the incident. A decision was made to have DFRA Engine 7 go into the plant and set up an unmanned master stream to augment the plant’s fixed fire protection. After a period of time, LPFD Engine 81 set up another unmanned master stream in the fire area to assist with exposure protection. As the sun began to rise another recon of the area was made.

None of the hazardous materials storage in the fire area appeared to be compromised, and a decision was made to start fire suppression in the plant. Two engine companies, DFRA Engine 1 and LPFD Engine 81, were positioned in the plant and supplied with water. Exterior Attack lines were stretched and firefighters began to extinguish the fire in the control room building, two warehouses, a contractor trailer, two vehicles, and a building containing a break room and lockers. The fire that had been burning in the plant’s cooling tower was being controlled by the fixed fire protection system.

The fireground was split into two divisions, with Chief Clay in charge of Division “A” and I was in charge of Division “B.” Fire suppression personnel were rotated out of the fire area after using two SCBA bottles. These efforts continued throughout most of the day. As the control room continued to burn, Chief Clay called for a track-hoe to open the building up, as well as assist in mopping up the other structures. LPFD’s Ladder 82 was eventually called to finish extinguishing the top of the cooling tower and provide an elevated master stream to put out the last of the active fire in the control room building.

Agencies that responded to this incident included Durango Fire & Rescue Authority, Los Pinos Fire Protection District, La Plata County Sheriff's Office, La Plata County Office of Emergency Management, Southern Ute Tribal Police Department, Upper Pine Fire Protection District, Southwest Colorado Hazardous Materials Team, Pagosa Springs Fire Department, Farmington Fire Department, San Juan County (N.M.) Fire Department and the Southwest Colorado Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Fire personnel cleared the scene at approximately 1800 hours. Photos were provided by Jerry McBride of the Durango Herald.