Spectacular Fire Destroying Denver Airport's Fuel Supply -- Massive Traffic Delays On Busiest Day Of Year
DENVER - A spectacular fire engulfed Stapleton International Airport's jet fuel supply yesterday, shooting a tower of smoke visible for miles and forcing United Airlines to scramble for fuel.
The three-alarm blaze that burned twin 400,000-gallon jet fuel tanks throughout the day spread to an 800,000-gallon tank last night, triggering a flare-up that resembled a bomb blast.
``This whole thing is going to go,'' said fire Capt. Nick Nuanes last night, one of more than 200 area firefighters battling the blaze.
The fire is expected to burn through tomorrow, warned Fire Chief Rich Gonzales.
Fire-department spokesman Mike McNeill acknowledged at about 10:15 p.m. that firefighters were ``helpless.''
``All we can do is try to minimize the loss. We've pulled our men and equipment back,'' he said.
Firefighters extinguished flames that spread to holding ponds around the tanks but their fears were sparked anew when one reignited near midnight.
Officials last night were considering closing Interstate 70 around the fire.
Stapleton is expecting only minor flight delays today as a result of the fire, a spokeswoman said. And most United flights will be running on schedule today, predicted United spokeswoman Laura Winiarski.
The fuel loss triggered massive passenger delays on the busiest travel day of the year. United diverted flights to Colorado
Because Denver is United's western hub, the fire created a ripple effect throughout the nation, causing delays as far away as Newark, N.J.
Springs and Salt Lake City as its reserve supplies dwindled.
The fire - which sent bright orange flames shooting 500 feet into the night sky - was first spotted about 9:30 a.m. But investigators say they haven't been able to get close enough to determine what caused the tanks to erupt. Fire investigators still had no idea of how the fire started.
Five firefighters were treated for dehydration and heat exhaustion and later released. No other injuries were reported.
The fire hadn't damaged any buildings as of last night, but officials were worried the fire could spread to surrounding warehouses.
The two 400,000-gallon tanks burned up United Airlines' fuel and the fire threatened to burn Continental Airlines' fuel as well. Those two carriers account for the bulk of Stapleton traffic.
On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Stapleton averages about 85,000 passengers, said airport spokesman Richard Boulware.
Because Denver is United's western hub, the fire created a ripple effect throughout the nation, causing delays as far away as Newark, N.J.
Officials last night decided to let the escaped fuel burn itself out after an unsuccessful effort shortly before 9 p.m. to douse it with foam.
No one was on duty inside the fenced and locked tank fuel farm when the Stapleton Control spotted the fire at 9:22 a.m.
``The fire was going when we got here and we don't know anybody who saw it start,'' McNeill said.
On arrival, firefighters found a much smaller fire centered around the valves that control the flow of jet fuel into and between the storage tankers. But after a series of muffled explosions around 11 a.m., two tanks ruptured and began feeding a much larger blaze.
Fire crews had to beat a hasty retreat at that point, as heat from the blaze literally melted a flashing light dome on one truck and ignited a nearby wooden utility pole.
The firefighting effort was aided by extra foam supplied from several sources, including the Buckley and Peterson air bases, the Conoco refinery and several metro area fire departments.
The city owns the land at the tank farm, but the fuel in the tanks is owned by United and Continental airlines.
United owned the fuel in the two tanks that ruptured earlier in the day, airport officials said, leaving the airline strapped for fuel.
By 5 p.m., 15 planes had been diverted to Colorado Springs Municipal Airport to refuel, and officials were expecting an average of three an hour through the night.
Continental, meanwhile, continued to fuel its planes, but had to do so away from its usual gates.