Fuel leak starts
fire at GEBE
~ One generator out of service ~
CAY BAY--Fuel leaking from a ruptured oil line at a section of utilities’ company N.V. GEBE’s power plant in Cay Bay caused an eruption of smoke and fire Thursday evening that sent residents into panic and forced almost all of the island’s emergency teams to mobilise.
Sparks hit the leaking fuel and burst into a mix of searing flames and thick, black smoke that shocked residents of the largely-immigrant Cay Bay community, causing them to pack belongings and start leaving their homes, fearing the worst. The blaze left a black scar on nearly half the plant’s galvanised roofing near the company’s logo and has resulted in the at least temporary loss of a generator.
The quick response of employees at the power plant in cordoning off sections of GEBE that house several generators and extinguishing the growing blaze with on-site equipment probably prevented disaster at Dutch St. Maarten’s electricity and water provider, the government-owned company said in a statement.
The fire did significant damage to one of the two generators it had surrounded (#46) based on a preliminary assessment of its aftermath. The damage, GEBE said, has knocked the 4.5-megawatt generator out of service. It is expected to be offline “for a while,” extending the company’s already weeklong load-shedding schedule due to leaking pipes and other technical problems.
“A preliminary assessment revealed that electrical components on generator #46 were damaged and this indicates that it will be out of service for a while,” the company’s statement on the incident reads. “Generator #620 had little damage and can be brought back online after the green light is given. A complete and thorough assessment will be made on Friday of both production units.”
The larger 12-megawatt generator #620 was only slightly damaged, thanks to the early reduction of flames with extinguishers.
Fire fighters, who had at least six vehicles in and around the power plant, said the fire had had the potential to cause calamity and a slightly less hasty response would have spelt disaster. “If it [the generator] would catch fire too, then it’s too late,” said Senior Fire Officer Frans Nieuwenhoven on the scene.
The Fire Department combed the scene for nearly an hour after the fire had been contained by employees to ensure there were no recurrences.
The possible emergency drew Local Chief of Police Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards, GEBE Managing Director Williams Brooks, Fire Chief Winston Salomon and technical experts to the scene to discuss the near disaster. The Simpson Bay police patrol led by Chief Inspector Bernabella was the first emergency team dispatched to the scene.
Brooks commended the GEBE staff for being alert and making the right moves quickly enough to avert disaster. “I highly commend the power plant staff for their quick and diligent action in containing this fire,” Brooks was quoted as saying. “They really performed to the highest standards as dictated by the training that they have received on how to deal with such situations.”
GEBE intends to assess completely the damage following this blaze today, Friday. The loss of 4.5MW of power will result in more load-shedding – a process that involves the systematic disruption of power to certain districts to prevent overload – over the weekend following the fire.
“It will be on a two-hour rotation for the various districts and will take place during the peak hours when the demand of electricity is the highest,” the company said. “GEBE is hoping that by Monday the load-shedding will be at a minimum.”
