Massive fire burns in Williston
The Associated Press | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 9 months AGO
<p>A fire burns at Red River Supply in an industrial part of Williston, N.D., early Tuesday morning. The site is near three oil companies and a rail line, just east of Williston's downtown. Explosions could be seen and heard at the scene. (AP Photo/Josh Wood)</p>
WILLISTON, N.D. — A massive fire broke out early Tuesday at an oil supply company in an industrial part of the western North Dakota oil patch town of Williston.
Authorities have set up an evacuation zone within a half-mile radius of Red River Supply, which is just east of downtown, according to Williams County Emergency Manager Mike Hallesy.
The fire broke out around midnight Monday, Hallesy said. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the fire. No injuries were immediately reported, the Williston Herald said.
Occasional fireballs were accompanied by the pop of explosions around 1 a.m., and thick black smoke billowed above the towering flames. Law enforcement officers hurried to evacuate onlookers and reroute traffic.
A regional hazardous response team and North Dakota National Guard officials are monitoring air quality near the site, where the fire was still burning at 6:30 a.m., and a cloud of gray smoke hung over Williston.
Red River Supply officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The business provides services to oil companies working in North Dakota’s oil patch. It has rail spurs for loading and unloading liquids such as crude oil, and dry goods like drill pipes and casing, according to its website. The company’s website also says it provides storage, blending and delivery of drilling fluids, such as calcium chloride, calcium bromide, calcium nitrate and pot ash.
Emergency responders are expected to remain on scene for the next day or two, Hallesy said.
A stretch of State Highway 1804 is closed.
MORE IMPORTED STORIES
ARTICLES BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Latest: US helped family escape Afghanistan overland
WASHINGTON — The United States is confirming for the first time that it has helped a U.S. citizen and family members to escape Afghanistan through an overland route to a neighboring country.
The Latest: US helped family escape Afghanistan overland
WASHINGTON — The United States is confirming for the first time that it has helped a U.S. citizen and family members to escape Afghanistan through an overland route to a neighboring country.
The Latest: Top Republican says Taliban holding Americans
WASHINGTON — The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee says some Americans who have been trying to get out of Afghanistan since the U.S. military left are sitting in airplanes at an airport ready to leave but the Taliban are not letting them take off.