Fire, explosions at Cornelius ethanol facility prompt evacuation
Updated Mar 16, 2021;
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Explosions and a large fire at a Cornelius business that produces ethanol prompted an evacuation Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters were dispatched at 1:30 p.m. to initial reports of a fuel tank on fire at a facility on the 500 block of North 4th Avenue. Crews initially began working to extinguish the fire but were pulled back to a safe distance due to “explosions and erratic fire conditions,” Forest Grove Fire & Rescue spokesperson Matt Johnston said Tuesday night.
The Cornelius Fire Department said the fire was “under control” a little after 7 p.m. Hazmat and Portland Airport crews were re-assessing the situation in hopes of fully extinguishing the fires. Shortly after, residents were able to to their homes and roads were re-opened.
Massive fire, explosions at Cornelius ethanol facility likely caused by static spark, officials say
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Cause of Cornelius ethanol facility blaze determined to be static
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Cause of Cornelius ethanol blaze determined
March 17, 2021
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CORNELIUS, Ore. (AP) Officials say a large fire Tuesday at a Cornelius ethanol facility west of Portland was likely caused by static while employees were transferring fuel between metal drums.
Fire crews responded to the blaze about 1:30 p.m. after reports of a fuel tank on fire. The flames erupted at the Summit Foods Inc. complex, which also houses subsidiary Thunderbolt Racing Fuel, where the fire started, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
Crews initially worked to extinguish the fire but were pulled back to a safe distance because of “explosions and erratic fire conditions,” according to Forest Grove Fire & Rescue spokesperson Matt Johnston.