Firefighters act quickly in fuel-tank fire

Feb. 17--CHAMPLAIN -- Wednesday night's call to a fuel-tank fire at James C. Smith and Son could have been a lot worse, Champlain Volunteer Fire Department Chief Pete Timmons said Thursday.

His crew, along with Rouses Point Fire and Champlain-Mooers EMS, were called to 1988 Ridge Road at around 5:33 p.m.

Initial first responders arrived four minutes later, Timmons said, and shortly after, Altona, Mooers, Chazy and Alburgh, Vt., fire departments were summoned as part of a tanker task force.

From Canada, a Hemmingford, Quebec, crew stood by at Champlain's station while Lacolle, Quebec, personnel went to the fuel-oil company, Timmons said.

Clinton County Deputy Fire Coordinators Chris Trombley and Richard Akey were also dispatched. One of them headed to Plattsburgh to get the Clinton County foam engine just in case, the chief said.

Timmons did not know what caused the tank to catch fire, only that Smith & Son employees were picking it up when flames sparked.

"It was contained to the dike area where the fuel tanks are."

The 10,000-gallon tank was located right next to a few other tanks of the same size, a 20,000-gallon tank and two 300-gallon tanks, Timmons said.

"It could have been a lot worse," he reiterated.

Around 50 fire personnel responded. No one was hurt in the fire.

Firefighters used 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of water to douse the fire, along with foam to smother the flames.

The tank sustained minimal damage, and the company does have insurance, Timmons said.

Champlain Fire Auxiliary was requested around 6:10 p.m., and the State Department of Environmental Conservation was notified, according to scanner reports.

Snow made roads slippery, but weather otherwise did not hinder extinguishing efforts, Timmons said.

He thanked the mutual-aid departments for a quick response and great job.

The departments were back in service around 8 p.m.

Email Cara Chapman:

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