Fire Causes APS Plant Evacuation

The fire was located in the crystallizer brine concentrator tower, located on the North side of the plant, where decommissioning of Units 1 – 3 is being conducted. Fire fighters were able to extinguish the tower fire shortly after 1 p.m., with no impact on Units 4 and 5. Employees of the plant were evacuated without incident. No injuries were reported to employees or responders and all parties are accounted for. Four Corners Power Plant has set up water stations to assist fire fighters as they continue “Mop Up” procedures.

From the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management:

San Juan County Volunteer Fire Fighters responded to reports of a tower fire at Four Corners Power Plant at approximately 10:54am.

San Juan County Fire Command Staff, Volunteer Fire Fighters, Farmington Fire, APS Fire Brigade, San Juan County Emergency Management, San Juan County Sheriff’s Deputies, and NM State Police Officers were dispatched to contain the fire.

The fire was located in the crystallizer brine concentrator tower, located on the North side of the plant, where decommissioning of Units 1 – 3 is being conducted. Fire fighters were able to extinguish the tower fire shortly after 1 p.m., with no impact on Units 4 and 5.

Employees of the plant were evacuated without incident. No injuries were reported to employees or responders and all parties are accounted for. Four Corners Power Plant has set up water stations to assist fire fighters as they continue “Mop Up” procedures.

The toxicity risk posed by titanium dioxide is low; accordingly, Four Corners Power Plant staff will be looking at all possible environmental effects. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.