A fire on May 23 damaged trailers and storage containers at Apache Oil Co., a wholesale lubricants and fuel distributor in Pasadena, Texas near Houston.
The fire started at approximately 9:08 a.m., Pasadena Fire Marshal David Brannon told Lube Report. Firefighters from the Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department brought the fire under control in about 30 to 45 minutes, according to Brannon. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, he said.
According to Brannon, the fire damaged several tote tanks and drums with products in them, and a bulk storage tank. Due to the extreme heat, we dont know the extent of damage to the product inside, he said. The fire damaged three enclosed trailers, Brannon added.
He said the fire caused minor injuries to one Apache Oil employee, who was treated and released within a couple of hours.
The fire marshal said the fire started in a yard that has bulk storage and an area where the company cleans out old storage tanks to get them ready to return to service.
Founded in 1971, family-owned Apache Oil is a Shell, Pennzoil and Quaker State lubricants distributor that carries a variety of other brands as well. In addition to lubricants, it carries gasoline, diesel, marine, kerosone, oils and jet fuels, along with solvents, chemicals, hand cleaners, absorbents, degreasers and the Baldwin line of filters. It has a 30,000 square foot warehouse and 14 trucks.
The company offers shipping worldwide, though it mainly services Harris County and surrounding counties in Texas. According to its Web site, Apache Oils emergency fueling and support services experience includes multiple turnarounds within petrochemical plants along the Gulf Coast region, along with service at various sites during hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita.