Platform Designed To Put Foam Atop Oil Refinery Tanks
One of California’s oldest and largest oil refineries has solved a fire protection problem caused by recent expansion by acquiring a 125-foot elevating platform with foam capability.
The 900-acre Chevron refinery in El Segundo, just south of Los Angeles International Airport, was opened in 1911. Today the complex employs 1300 persons and can process 405,000 barrels of crude oil per day to produce a wide variety of petroleum and petrochemical products.
The refinery has 25 full-time fire fighters directed by Gene Palme, chief of fire and security. In addition, other personnel are trained in fire suppression operations.
Capabilities reviewed
Recent expansion of facilities caused refinery officials to review fire fighting and suppression capabilities. Alternatives were to construct foam protection systems around every storage tank at a cost which would have run into millions or to continue to use an old hydraulic foam water system which is cumbersome, does not pass safety tests and has no reach.
The 125-foot Firebird from Calavar Corp., is the first apparatus of its type designed specifically for refineries.
In an emergency, said Chief Palmer, “it will be utilized to reach over a 72foot-high storage tank to place foam in the seal areas at the inside perimeters of the tanks. The equipment also will be used to protect structures such as the tanks which receive crude from ships delivering oil from Alaska.”
Combining the features of telescoping and articulated booms, the Firebird enables a fire fighter to work at heights up to 125 feet. It can reach horizontally 66 feet over a 63-foot structure, providing extensive vertical and horizontal range from a single ground position.
Foam capability
The new unit was built on a chassis for a 150-foot Firebird and can disperse 500 gpm of protein foam at 150 psi. The refinery fire department also has a 900-gallon nurse trailer.
The balance of the Chevron department consists of two emergency command trucks, a dual-agent truck with AFFF and dry chemical and a 1000-gpm pumper that carries 500 gallons of foam concentrate and 500 gallons of water.
Before acquiring the new unit, the refinery fire fighters attacked fires only from the ground. The processing towers and other high structures were allowed to burn until assistance arrived. Backup aid consists of full response from the El Segundo Fire Department. Mutual aid is available from several South Bay area municipal fire departments.
