Gulf Oil Fire

THE GULF OIL FIRE of JANUARY 3, 1969

January 3, 1969 shortly after ten o'clock in the morning, tank vehicles were being loaded with gasoline at the loading rack of the Gulf Oil Refinery on Eastern Ave, when an unusual accident occurred that would have tremendous development.
Tank vehicles were loading in bays 5, 7, and 8. The driver of the truck in bay #7 had just moved his 6000 gallon steel tank, semi-trailer into the bay and connected the bonding wire, as required before the pump could be actuated.

Construction of the Gulf Oil Tank Farm on Eastern Avenue. - September 1948

He filled two compartments and was swinging the loading am to fill another compartment when the elbow on that loading arm caught the wire from the spring loaded valve on another loading arm causing gasoline to flow from the second arm over his vehicle and to the ground. In trying to disconnect the wire the driver's clothing became soaked with gasoline. The control room operator shut off the pump as soon as he saw what was happening, but not before 127 gallons of gasoline had been spilled. The gasoline ran down under an 8,000 gallon aluminum tank semi-trailer in bay #8 which had just filled two compartmehts and was busy filling a third. Almost immediately fire broke out from an unknown ignition source.

The driver of the truck in bay #8 was able to escape safely but the driver of the truck in bay #7, Theodore Shirley, with the gasoline soaked clothes became enveloped in flames. He hit the ground and was immediately wrapped in a fire blanket by plant employees. He was rushed to the hospital by ambulance but succumbed to his burns two weeks later.
Despite the fire the driver of the truck in bay #5 was able to jump in the cab of his truck and drive it out of the danger area. The superintendent of Fire Alarm had just driven into the oil company yard when the fire started and promptly radioed the alarm. Four minutes later a second alarm was sounded.

The first arriving apparatus had to contend with a frozen hydrant. There was no protective extinguishing system in the racks. The fire was fought with 1 1/2 inch mechanical foam lines from each piece of apparatus.

The two empty forward compartments numbers 1 and 2 melted and the bulkhead between compartments 2 and 3
ruptured releasing 1,000 gallons of gasoline. By this time a third alarm was sounded and the off duty shifts were called back.

The bulkhead between compartments 3 and 4 let go a couple of minutes later releasing another 1100 gallons of gasoline.

This was soon followed by the rear compartment, number 5, rupturing violently from overpressure causing the trailer to travel backward with the speed of a rocket The tractor remained at the loading rack. The trailer travelled a distance of about 150 feet coming to a stop beside Chelsea's Engine 1 pump involving it in flames. The pump burned to a total loss and four fire fighters were seriously injured. The four injured local firemen were taken to Chelsea Memorial Hospital, where they received medical attention, after which three of them were released. Held for further treatment was firefighter Robert Ostler of Engine One.

Shown in the photos above is Firefighter Robert Ostler being taken from the scene after the exploding tanker crashed into Engine One. Ostler was atop the apparatus when the collision occurred.

Released from the hospital were Captain Edward Roache of Engine Five, James Keavney of Ladder One, and firefighter Joseph Capistran of Engine One.

Truck driver Theordore Shirley, 64, of 32 Foster Pond Road, Andover was badly burned from the hips down with third degree burns. He was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital and died two weeks later. A second workman, Frank Rawson, 48, of 53 Stoughton Street, Stoughton, Massachusetts was rushed to the Massachusetts General Hospital and later released.

The 1 1/2 inch mechanical foam lines of the Chelsea Fire Department were puny with a lack of volume and reach. Additionally, there was a lack of operable firefighting equipment in the yard yet the firefighters with great effort and in spite of battling the unexpected, confined the fire with final extinguishment by a foam truck from Logan Airport.

Fire apparatus from numerous surrounding communities responded to the call for aid. Helping Chelsea firefighters in fighting the inferno were crews from Revere, Everett, Malden, Boston, Saugus, Lynn, Medford, Winthrop, Newton, Somerville, Quincy, Arlington, Lexington, Watertown, Chelsea Naval Hospital, Logan Airport, Massachusetts Port Authority, two Boston Fireboats and the Emergency Center from Somerville.

Damage to the Gulf Oil Terminal was estimated at $200,000. The damage to Engine One was estimated at $35,000.

THE GULF OIL FIRE of JANUARY 3, 1969
January 3, 1969 shortly after ten o'clock in the morning, tank vehicles were being loaded with gasoline at the loading rack of the Gulf Oil Refinery on Eastern Ave, when an unusual accident occurred that would have tremendous development. Tank vehicles were loading in bays 5, 7, and 8. The driver of the truck in bay #7 had just moved his 6000 gallon steel tank, semi-trailer into the bay and connected the bonding wire, as required before the pump could be actuated.

Construction of the Gulf Oil Tank Farm on Eastern Avenue. - September 1948
He filled two compartments and was swinging the loading am to fill another compartment when the elbow on that loading arm caught the wire from the spring loaded valve on another loading arm causing gasoline to flow from the second arm over his vehicle and to the ground. In trying to disconnect the wire the driver's clothing became soaked with gasoline. The control room operator shut off the pump as soon as he saw what was happening, but not before 127 gallons of gasoline had been spilled. The gasoline ran down under an 8,000 gallon aluminum tank semi-trailer in bay #8 which had just filled two compartmehts and was busy filling a third. Almost immediately fire broke out from an unknown ignition source.
The driver of the truck in bay #8 was able to escape safely but the driver of the truck in bay #7, Theodore Shirley, with the gasoline soaked clothes became enveloped in flames. He hit the ground and was immediately wrapped in a fire blanket by plant employees. He was rushed to the hospital by ambulance but succumbed to his burns two weeks later. Despite the fire the driver of the truck in bay #5 was able to jump in the cab of his truck and drive it out of the danger area. The superintendent of Fire Alarm had just driven into the oil company yard when the fire started and promptly radioed the alarm. Four minutes later a second alarm was sounded.
	The first arriving apparatus had to contend with a frozen hydrant. There was no protective extinguishing system in the racks. The fire was fought with 1 1/2 inch mechanical foam lines from each piece of apparatus. The two empty forward compartments numbers 1 and 2 melted and the bulkhead between compartments 2 and 3 ruptured releasing 1,000 gallons of gasoline. By this time a third alarm was sounded and the off duty shifts were called back. The bulkhead between compartments 3 and 4 let go a couple of minutes later releasing another 1100 gallons of gasoline.

This was soon followed by the rear compartment, number 5, rupturing violently from overpressure causing the trailer to travel backward with the speed of a rocket The tractor remained at the loading rack. The trailer travelled a distance of about 150 feet coming to a stop beside Chelsea's Engine 1 pump involving it in flames. The pump burned to a total loss and four fire fighters were seriously injured. The four injured local firemen were taken to Chelsea Memorial Hospital, where they received medical attention, after which three of them were released. Held for further treatment was firefighter Robert Ostler of Engine One.

Shown in the photos above is Firefighter Robert Ostler being taken from the scene after the exploding tanker crashed into Engine One. Ostler was atop the apparatus when the collision occurred.
Released from the hospital were Captain Edward Roache of Engine Five, James Keavney of Ladder One, and firefighter Joseph Capistran of Engine One. Truck driver Theordore Shirley, 64, of 32 Foster Pond Road, Andover was badly burned from the hips down with third degree burns. He was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital and died two weeks later. A second workman, Frank Rawson, 48, of 53 Stoughton Street, Stoughton, Massachusetts was rushed to the Massachusetts General Hospital and later released.
The 1 1/2 inch mechanical foam lines of the Chelsea Fire Department were puny with a lack of volume and reach. Additionally, there was a lack of operable firefighting equipment in the yard yet the firefighters with great effort and in spite of battling the unexpected, confined the fire with final extinguishment by a foam truck from Logan Airport. Fire apparatus from numerous surrounding communities responded to the call for aid. Helping Chelsea firefighters in fighting the inferno were crews from Revere, Everett, Malden, Boston, Saugus, Lynn, Medford, Winthrop, Newton, Somerville, Quincy, Arlington, Lexington, Watertown, Chelsea Naval Hospital, Logan Airport, Massachusetts Port Authority, two Boston Fireboats and the Emergency Center from Somerville. Damage to the Gulf Oil Terminal was estimated at $200,000. The damage to Engine One was estimated at $35,000.