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     August 8, 1972
     General American Transportation (GATX) Fire
     San Pedro

50 Firemen Injured Battling San Pedro Chemical Tank Fire

By JOHN MOSQUE
Times Staff Writer

Explosions ripped through a tank farm in a chemical storage area at Los Angeles Harbor late Tuesday, touching off an inferno which illuminated much of San Pedro for more than three hours.

At least 21 of the silo-like cylinders were destroyed, spilling highly inflammable solvents and chemicals.

One explosion sent a tank soaring high into the air, trailing flames and resembling the liftoff of a space missile shot. It crashed to earth near a warehouse.

About 50 of the 250 firemen battling the blaze suffered chemical burns on their legs, but none was believed seriously hurt.

The blaze was reported controlled by 9:15 p.m., but individual spot fires continued to flare up and fire officials said there was a chance the entire storage area could be reignited.

Dep. Fire Chief Richard P. Carriger said heavy applications of foam enabled firemen to halt the blaze.

Water could not be used on the fire because most of the chemicals continued to burn after becoming mixed with water.

Prevention Efforts
Firemen braved flames, explosions and chemical burns to pour water on tanks untouched by flames to keep the contents cool and prevent other explosions.

The fire started about 5:30 p.m. at the General American Transportation Corp., 220 E. 22nd St.

The company stores alcohol, acetone and other chemicals in tanks for distribution by tank trucks.

Harbor Department police said they were investigating a report the fire started when a tank truck sheared a pipe serving one of the tanks.

The tank's contents ignited with a roar which rocked the harbor area. At least three other violent blasts were touched off as the blazing sea of flames spread to other tanks. Tops of many tanks popped off in explosions and steel sections of the sides of many tanks buckled from the heat, causing more inflammable fluids to pour onto the ground.

No Damage Estimates
The tanks vary in diameter and range up to 45 feet in height. The average tank has a capacity of 180,000 gallons.

No immediate estimate could be made of the loss.

Chief Carriger, a veteran of 20 years with the Fire Department, said the blaze was the worst "chemical fire I've ever seen."

Firemen completely encircled the tank storage area, pouring water onto tanks and foam onto flames. Others stood on top of a concrete office building at 220 E. 22nd St., as flames licked against the structure.

The fire was confined to the storage area about 2,000 feet south of Ports O'Call Village, a restaurant and shop complex.

Billowing clouds of black smoke spread out for miles around the harbor area.

Spectators Gather
Sgt. Albert Lugo, one of the first policemen on the scene after the initial explosion, said many spectators had already gathered to watch the fire.

"They didn't stay long," Lugo said. "Just as I arrived, one of the big tall chemical tanks, I guess 30 feet high, went up in the air with a whoosh...It went as high as three telephone poles and broke up when it came back.

"It was one of the most awesome things I've ever seen. Tank after tank blew up as the fire spread.

"The fire apparently started from a small blaze on one tank. From there it jumped from tank to tank...As the flames reached the tanks and engulfed them, they blew up."

 

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