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Olympic Pipe Line Pipeline rupture and fire

Olympic Pipe Line Pipeline rupture and fire. Presented by Chief Randall Carroll City of Bellingham, Washington. Bellingham. Population 75, 000 85 miles north of Seattle On Bellingham Bay Several lakes/mountain areas Extensive park system Community involvement.

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Olympic Pipe Line Pipeline rupture and fire

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  1. Olympic Pipe Line Pipeline rupture and fire Presented by Chief Randall Carroll City of Bellingham, Washington

  2. Bellingham • Population 75, 000 • 85 miles north of Seattle • On Bellingham Bay • Several lakes/mountain areas • Extensive park system • Community involvement

  3. Bellingham Fire Department • 6 Fire stations • 5 engines • 1 ladder/rescue • 4 full time medic units • 1 Battalion Chief • 1 County medic station

  4. Whatcom Creek Incident • Olympic Pipe Line • From Cherry Point to Portland • Fuels Sea Tac Airport • 400 mile pipeline installed 1965 • 16 inch diameter steel - at 800-1100 P.S.I.

  5. Whatcom Creek Incident • Whatcom Falls Park • Located on eastern edge of city Lake Whatcom • Pride of the community • Water treatment plant • Fish hatchery • Heavy use in summer

  6. Whatcom Creek Incident

  7. Recipe for disaster • June 10, 1999 • Approx. 1530 hrs. pipeline ruptures- Olympic computer shut down • Pipeline restarted 45 min.s later • Flowed approximately 17 minutes • Pumps shut down

  8. Recipe for disaster • Unleaded gasoline • Ruptures next to water pump station • 230,000 gallons leak • Fuel flows into Hannah & Whatcom Creeks

  9. Recipe for disaster • 911 call “outdoor chemical smell” • single engine response • Additional calls - incident upgraded • Product has flowed 1 mile downstream

  10. Recipe for disaster • E-54’s views: • Creek churning “muddy yellow” with product • Vapors 10 feet high flowing over roadway • E-54’s actions: • Establishes Command • Upgrades incident • Blocks roadway

  11. Recipe for disaster • Battalion One arrives • Assumes Command • Orders evacuation of businesses/homes along Iowa • Orders closing of all streets crossing creek • Orders crews to find source of leak

  12. “It’s running! It’s running!!!” • Fumes overcome 18 year old fisherman • Two boys playing by creek light a lighter • Fire travels 1.5 miles • Explosion knocks out water pumps

  13. June 10, 19995:02 PM

  14. Scope of the problem identified • “It was like trying to gauge the size of an elephant by looking at it’s toenail!”

  15. Post explosion actions • Scene security • Search and Rescue • Treat burn patients • Structure fire combat • Brush fire combat • Foam Whatcom Creek

  16. Bellingham Fire S.E.R.P. County Fire Districts BPD/WCSO/DEM Search & Rescue Mountain Rescue Coast Guard/Navy Public Works State/Federal agencies The initial “Players”

  17. Response challenges • Incident size • Level of response • 30 fire apparatus • Approximately 200 on scene personnel • Resources not requested • Aircraft

  18. Challenges cont... • Command/Communications • Multiple agencies • Burn victims • Emotional impact • Community • Responders

  19. Liam Wood, 18 Stephen Tsiorvas, 10 Wade King, 10

  20. Challenges cont... • Traffic/Access • Public Information • Utilities compromised • Water • Sewer • Power • Cellular phones

  21. Unified Command“Wow, we need to fill all the boxes!” • E. P. A. • D.O.E. • Olympic Pipe Line • City of Bellingham • D.E.M. • N.T.S.B.

  22. Strategic objectives • Responder/site safety • Minimize long term environmental impact • Secure source/minimize additional release • Reassure public/agencies/public officials of Olympic intent to minimize short/long term spill impact.

  23. The Machine • Met x2 a day • Approved all I.A.P.’s • Coordinated respective agency operations • Approved all joint press releases

  24. Incident complexities • Compromised water supply • Product in sewer system • Environmental issues • Political/Legal/Investigation • Critical Incident Stress • Planning/logistics • Intense media interest

  25. Community impact • Psychological • Dead children • Sense of security threatened • Community landmark destroyed • City infrastructure • 1/3 of the water supply threatened • Environmental impact • City staff response

  26. Unified Command Considerations • Safety issues • Competing priorities • Players without needed Haz Mat “blessing” • UC takes time to fully develop • Public Information was crucial! • City government needs IMS training

  27. Action items • Learn from this incident! • Adopt and train on city disaster plan • Improve emergency communications • Public notification • Electronic • Share our experience • Lobby for pipeline safety

  28. QUESTIONS?

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