Crews Respond to Explosion, Fire at Calumet Refinery

30-Foot Asphalt Tank Up in Flames, Black Smoke

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Crews responded to an explosion and fire at Superior’s Calumet Refinery.

The Superior Fire Department was called around 3:30 p.m. to a 30 foot asphalt tank on fire.

The tank is empty and the fuel involved is residual, according to authorities.

“The residual that was in there was hot enough to continually burn.  The tank is not designed to be open to outside air so it was super-hot and the fuel in there that was the residual asphalt, once it got oxygen we had a free burning fire,” said Superior’s Battalion Chief Scott Gordon.

A cause has not yet been determined and no injuries have been reported.

Calumet initiated its emergency response plan, evacuated all non-essential personnel, and activated its Emergency Response Team (ERT).