Providence Fire Department Field Notes
Date: 26Dec2024
Time: 15:04
Address: 130 Terminal Rd
Incident No.: 2024-45273
Investigator: Eric Pedro
SUMMARY
- On December 26, 2024, at approximately 15:30 hours, Fire Investigators from the Providence Fire Department responded to 130 Terminal Road to conduct a fire scene investigation.
- Investigators determined the fire originated in a distribution tank of biofuel. The cause of the fire was determined to be possibly a damaged heating coil in the system igniting the biofuel vapors in the tank. The first fuel ignited was determined to be vapors from the bio-fuel in the tank. The ignition sequence was possibly a damaged heating coil in the distribution tank that brought available vapors from stored biofuel to their ignition temperature.
OVERVIEW
- This report is intended to document the investigative efforts of the Providence Fire Department and the investigator’s origin and cause analysis. It should be noted that this report does not, nor was it intended to, contain every investigative detail considered a part of the origin and cause analysis. Rather, this report highlights and summarizes the information and evidence available to investigators that is believed to be the most significant to the origin and cause analysis. As a result, this report should not be a substitute for a deliberate, reasoned discussion with the author and other participating investigators.
- The investigation was conducted in compliance with the requirements of NFPA 1033, “Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator,” 2022 Edition, and NFPA 921, “A Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations,” 2024 Edition.
- The investigative team included Fire Investigator Eric Pedro.
- On December 26, 2024, at approximately 15:04 hours, the Providence Fire Department responded to Global Co. LLC at 130 Terminal Road for a reported tanker fire. Chief Jackson in Division 1 was the incident commander, and Lt. Whalen in Engine 13 was the first arriving company officer.
- No injuries were reported to investigators.
SCENE INVESTIGATION
The distribution tank at 130 Terminal Road that the fire started in was approximately 40 feet tall and 12 feet across, with a circumference of approximately 38 feet. This tank appeared to be a metal cylinder with a layer of insulation, an outer layer of aluminum sheeting and wrapped with metal cable. There was a ladder that ran up the entire height of the cylinder and extended approximately 5 feet above the tank. At the base of the tank was a large framework of piping and valves that appeared to connect the tank to the distribution portion of the facility. This tank was used to take the product from the larger tanks, where it was then pumped into vehicles and mixed to the proper percentages for transport to the customers.
- The facility was owned by GlobalGlo. LLC.
- Based on my personal observations of the weather conditions at the time of the fire, it was determined that the weather did not play a role in this fire. According to www.wunderground.com, the weather conditions in Providence around the time of the fire were:
- Temperature: 28 degrees Fahrenheit
- Humidity: 66 %
- Barometric pressure: 30.34 in
- Skies: Cloudy
- Winds: NNW @ 7 mph
- Our exterior examination was unremarkable with the exception of a distribution tank of bio-fuel. The distribution tank was approximately 40 feet tall and 12 feet across, with a circumference of approximately 38 feet. The tank showed damage to the exterior metal sheeting that covered the outside of the tank, as well as the insulation of the tank. There was some possible soot deposition located at the very top of the tank, although this could have also been discoloration of the metal from flame impingement.
- Our interior examination was unremarkable.
INTERVIEWS
- [REDACTED} Regional Manager Global Co. LLC. [REDACTED} explained to investigators what the contents of the tank were as well as the operation that was being performed when the incident occurred. [REDACTED] told the investigator that a storage tank held bio-fuel was transferring fuel to the tank that had the incident, which was a distribution tank. The fuel is then pumped from the distribution tank into vehicles where it is mixed with heating fuel and then transported to the customer. [REDACTED] stated that when the employee opened the valve to transfer fuel from the storage tank to the distribution tank, there was a loud noise, so the employee closed the valve. The pressure blew the lid off of the tank, sent it into the street and a fire started at the top of the tank. He stated the employee grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the fire. stated that the fire ignited possibly due to a heating coil that was damaged with the pressure wave that ignited the contents of the tanker. then directed the investigator to the employee [who] was performing the transfer when the incident occurred.
- [REDACTED] was the employee[who] performed the transfer operation from a larger tank to the smaller tank that the fire occurred in when the incident happened. [REDACTED] told investigators that around 2 PM he attempted to transfer more fuel to the smaller distribution tank. He stated that when he opened the valve he heard a large wave of pressure, and immediately closed the valve. He said after the valve was closed he heard a loud boom and the lid of the tank shot off and he saw a small fire at the top of the tank. [REDACTED] stated he ran over grabbed an extinguisher climbed the ladder to extinguished the fire.[REDACTED] believes he successfully extinguished the fire and immediately called the emergency numbers to alert workers of the incident.
- Lieutenant Whalen of Engine 13 stated to investigators that they were called to the scene at 130 Terminal road for reports of a possible tank fire on the premises. When they arrived on scene they were met with company employees, who stated that the fire at the top of a bio-fuel storage tank was extinguished by one of the workers. The Lieutenant stated that they remained on scene for roughly 30 minutes speaking with employees. The Lieutenant stated they checked the area for extension and damage to surrounding structures and found none. Lieutenant Whalen stated that they returned to the station and called the RegionalManager [REDACTED] to ask how many gallons of bio-fuel the tank was holding. The manager told him that he wasn’t sure but one of the employees told him one of the pipes to the tank was currently at 300 degrees. The Lieutenant told [REDACTED] they would head back over, but before they made it back to the scene, [REDACTED] stated the tank was on fire again. Lieutenant Whalen told investigators that his company grabbed a hydrant on the way onto the premises to give themselves a water supply. He stated he had his crew grab a 2 ½ inch hose line and sprayed the sides of the tank to cool the product and protect exposures.
- Based on witness interviews, observing and evaluating fire effects and patterns, and considering fire dynamics investigators ’ area of origin of this fire was in a tank of bio-fuel used for distribution to vehicles for transport.
CONCLUSION
- Based on interviews with employees of Global Co. investigators determined the cause of the fire to possibly be a damaged heating coil in the distribution tank, brought available vapors from stored bio-fuel to their ignition temperature.
- Investigators found no other competent ignition sources in the area of origin.
- The first fuel ignited was determined to be vapors from the bio-fuel stored in the tank. The ignition source was determined to possibly be the damaged heating coil in the system. The circumstances that brought them together possibly include a damaged heating coil resulting from a pressurizing event in the system brought available vapors from the bio-fuel stored in the tank to their ignition temperature.
My findings, opinions and conclusions are based on scientifically accepted and well documented indicators, and are within reasonable degree of fire science certainty. This report was based on the information made available to me at the time of its completion. If and when more information becomes available to me, I reserve to amend my opinion as stated above.
Eric Pedro, Fire Investigator