This article was originally published in The Examiner on June 29, 2017.
By Eleanor Skelton
Staff Writer
Port Arthur firefighters oversaw the removal of 4,700 tons of product after a fire caused the collapse of a silo at the beginning of June.
“The Port Arthur Fire Department continues to maintain a 24-hour presence at the German Pellets terminal,” City of Port Arthur spokesperson LaRisa Carpenter said in a news release June 16. “[We are] ensuring every necessary action is being taken to end this incident as quickly and safely as possible.
Although 4,700 tons of product debris had been removed, she said, there are some hot spots the fire department is still unable to access, due to several thousand tons of steel debris and possible collapse hazards.
“The volume of smoke released is at the lowest levels since the incident occurred,” Carpenter said.
The smoldering silo at German Pellets ruptured and collapsed on June 2. There were no people in the collapse zone when the collapse occurred, and no injuries were reported.
“The United Command Team has since been made aware that internal sensor readings on the silo adjacent to the collapsed silo show an internal hot spot,” Carpenter said. “This hot spot is being continuously monitored while solutions are explored. Every option is being considered at this point, ranging from internal nitrogen injection to controlled demolition.”
“The Port Arthur Fire Department is committed to maintaining a presence though the conclusion of this incident,” she said.
German Pellets Texas has a dedicated phone line to respond to inquiries regarding this incident. If you have any additional questions, call (409) 200-3313, or visit http://www.gptxupdates.com.
Eleanor Skelton 