Date: April 17, 2018
Location: Altus, Oklahoma (USA)
Address: Unknown
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Cottonseed
Industry: Cottonseed Plant
Equipment: Unknown
Company: Unknown
Previous Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Greater than $20 Million
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Description of Cotton Seed Fire in Altus, Oklahoma:
Flames 70 feet high, visible from space, punctuate the size of a cottonseed fire in Altus, Oklahoma that has been challenging firefighters for an extended period of time.
According to KSWO, 90,00 tonnes of cottonseed have burned at a grain elevator in Jackson County, Oklahoma with losses expected to exceed $20 million.
11 different fire departments, including 9 volunteer, and the local air force base prevention services hopped from firefight to firefight, hoping to keep not only flames under wraps but also extensive smoke billowing from the scene.
According to one of the Fire Chiefs on scene, “We’re trying to get enough water on this fire to slow it down, we’re concerned about the smoke crossing the highway, affecting the town and all of our residents. That’s what we’re most concerned about is trying to suppress the smoke and get it reduced for our citizens.
Much of southwest Oklahoma was under extreme fire danger, however very few areas have seen as many hotspots actually burn as Jackson County during the preceding weeks. After several days of work, authorities were basically hoping for rain. While local farmers had dropped off semis full of water so that trucks could refill without having to leave the scene leaving the scene, the lack of rain for at least 60 days has left the area extremely susceptible for more fires.
The systems utilized in a cotton gin for drying use natural gas, propane, butane, and propane-butane mixtures for fuel and are considered both hazardous and volatile by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Due to the extremely high fire warnings in effect, citizens have been urged to avoid any activity that could potentially spark a fire. These activities include smoking outdoors, dragging chains and outdoor fires are obviously banned during this extremely volatile period.
Sources:
KSWO
KSWO
Feed and Grain
The Fence Post
