Quick Answer
A fire at an oilfield tank battery near Big Spring, Texas, was extinguished Monday night, Sept. 21, after the operator isolated the facility and firefighters allowed the flames to burn down. Howard County officials reported no injuries. The cause has not been released.
A fire broke out at an oilfield tank battery on North Moss Lake Road in Howard County, roughly 1 to 1.5 miles north of Interstate 20. The oilfield company isolated the facility while firefighters waited for the flames to diminish before moving in. By Monday night, the fire was out and all Howard County fire units had returned to service, according to local news.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but officials have not yet released the cause of the fire.
On This Page
- What happened near Big Spring
- What is an oilfield tank battery?
- Why firefighters waited before extinguishing the fire
- The hazards around production tanks
- Frequently asked questions
What happened near Big Spring
Initial coverage Monday evening placed firefighters at the oilfield facility on North Moss Lake Road. Bacon said the company had isolated the facility and crews were letting the fire burn down before moving in to put it out.
A later update confirmed that firefighters extinguished the remaining flames Monday night. The department cleared the scene, and no injuries were reported.
What is an oilfield tank battery?
Despite its name, tank batteries have nothing to do with electrical batteries. It is a group of tanks and related equipment at an oil and gas production site. The equipment may collect and separate fluids from wells and hold crude oil or water before those materials are moved elsewhere. OSHA describes a typical tank battery as a “facility that collects and separates crude oil, produced water and, at some locations, natural gas.”
That combination of tanks, piping and flammable material makes managing a fire at a production site a different challenge from an ordinary building fire. Crews have to account for the material still inside the equipment and anything that could continue feeding the flames. Additionally, these fires may produce toxic smokes or release chemicals that impact emergency crews or workers still present near the site when the fire breaks out.
Why firefighters waited before extinguishing the fire
In this incident, the oilfield company first isolated the facility, then firefighters allowed the flames to burn down to a safer level before approaching to extinguish what remained. This is a key part of the response.
Isolation matters because it can limit the flow of material into an affected part of a production site. Waiting until the flames diminished also reduced the immediate danger to firefighters as they moved closer. Howard County reported no injuries to workers or crews.
The hazards around production tanks
Workers at oilfield facilities may inspect tanks, transfer fluids, collect samples and maintain the equipment connecting them. Those tasks can put people close to flammable vapors even when a tank appears to be operating normally. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health warns that opening production tank hatches for manual gauging or sampling can expose workers to hydrocarbon gases and vapors, as well as fire and explosion hazards.
Fire risk also exists during repairs. OSHA’s oil and gas safety guidance identifies tank batteries, separators and connecting pipes as areas where flammable vapors can collect during welding or other work that creates heat or sparks. These are general oilfield hazards; officials have not identified what started the Howard County fire.
For more on incidents at Texas production sites, read our report on the East Texas oil well explosion near Etoile.
Frequently asked questions
Were any workers or firefighters injured in the Howard County fire?
No injuries were reported, according to the Howard County Volunteer Fire Department chief.
Where did the fire happen?
It happened at an oilfield tank battery on North Moss Lake Road near Big Spring, about 1 to 1.5 miles north of Interstate 20.
When was the fire extinguished?
Chief Bracy Bacon confirmed Monday night, Sept. 21, that the fire was out. First Alert 7 published its follow-up report Sept. 22.
What caused the tank battery fire?
Officials have not released a cause.
Injured in an oilfield fire in Texas?
This Howard County fire ended without reported injuries, but many involved in refinery fires are not so lucky.
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