NORFOLK, Nebraska -- A propane-fueled fire that prompted evacuation of about one-third of Norfolk has been extinguished.
City Administrator Al Roder said the fire at a former dairy plant was put out after crews managed to shut valves that cut off the flow from a 30,000-gallon propane tank.
A large swath of Norfolk was evacuated after the fire broke out around 7 a.m.
Flames billowed out of two pipes adjacent to the 30,000-gallon propane tank at the former Protient plant, 805 Omaha Ave., Roder said.
Fears that the tank itself might explode prompted officials to order the evacuation.
Roder said evacuees weren't immediately being allowed back into their homes and businesses, but a return was expected soon.
About 10,000 people live in the area of south Norfolk that was evacuated, according to Census figures. Norfolk's latest population estimate is nearly 23,000. The city is about 100 miles northwest of Omaha.
The fire first was reported shortly after 7 a.m. Black, rolling smoke could be seen for miles. Bright orange flames shot up from the site of the fire.
The cause wasn't immediately known, but the smell of gas permeated the air near the scene, witnesses said.
There were no reports of injuries.
Ten to 12 workers inside the plant at the time the fire broke out escaped.
Roder said two unmanned fire units sprayed water on the blaze because it was too dangerous for crews to get close.
Just days ago, the plant was leased by an Illinois company with plans to return it to full production, the Norfolk Daily News reported.
Roder said the propane tank threatened by the fire was filled on Wednesday.
The evacuated area was bordered by Norfolk Avenue on the north, Andy's Lake on the south, Victory Road on the east and 20th Street on the west.
"That constitutes, land-mass-wise, about a third of the city," Roder said.
In addition to homes, the area includes dozens of businesses, five public elementary schools, a junior high school, the city's main shopping center, its motel corridor and the southern half of downtown. Norfolk Senior High School also was ordered not to open.
The city auditorium, Norfolk Middle School and the YMCA building served as evacuation sites.
Several roads were closed, and motorists were urged to avoid the area. U.S. Highway 81 was closed at the Nebraska Highway 32 junction, and U.S. Highway 275 was closed at Nebraska Highway 24.
Some of Norfolk's major employers have facilities within the evacuated area, including Nucor Corp., a steel producer, and Affiliated Foods.
Affiliated, a grocery wholesaler, is one of Norfolk's largest employers with about 675 workers. Two of Nucor's four Norfolk divisions were affected by the evacuation, a company official said.
http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2009/12/10/news/local/doc4b210dfda4a6c564841603.txt
RELATED:
New lease of Protient plant had just began days before fire
Just when there were brighter prospects for the former Protient manufacturing plant in Norfolk,Nebraska this happens.
** Cave Editor's Note: I worked at that 'former dairy plant' when I was going back to college in the late 1980's
City Administrator Al Roder said the fire at a former dairy plant was put out after crews managed to shut valves that cut off the flow from a 30,000-gallon propane tank.
A large swath of Norfolk was evacuated after the fire broke out around 7 a.m.
Flames billowed out of two pipes adjacent to the 30,000-gallon propane tank at the former Protient plant, 805 Omaha Ave., Roder said.
Fears that the tank itself might explode prompted officials to order the evacuation.
Roder said evacuees weren't immediately being allowed back into their homes and businesses, but a return was expected soon.
About 10,000 people live in the area of south Norfolk that was evacuated, according to Census figures. Norfolk's latest population estimate is nearly 23,000. The city is about 100 miles northwest of Omaha.
The fire first was reported shortly after 7 a.m. Black, rolling smoke could be seen for miles. Bright orange flames shot up from the site of the fire.
The cause wasn't immediately known, but the smell of gas permeated the air near the scene, witnesses said.
There were no reports of injuries.
Ten to 12 workers inside the plant at the time the fire broke out escaped.
Roder said two unmanned fire units sprayed water on the blaze because it was too dangerous for crews to get close.
Just days ago, the plant was leased by an Illinois company with plans to return it to full production, the Norfolk Daily News reported.
Roder said the propane tank threatened by the fire was filled on Wednesday.
The evacuated area was bordered by Norfolk Avenue on the north, Andy's Lake on the south, Victory Road on the east and 20th Street on the west.
"That constitutes, land-mass-wise, about a third of the city," Roder said.
In addition to homes, the area includes dozens of businesses, five public elementary schools, a junior high school, the city's main shopping center, its motel corridor and the southern half of downtown. Norfolk Senior High School also was ordered not to open.
The city auditorium, Norfolk Middle School and the YMCA building served as evacuation sites.
Several roads were closed, and motorists were urged to avoid the area. U.S. Highway 81 was closed at the Nebraska Highway 32 junction, and U.S. Highway 275 was closed at Nebraska Highway 24.
Some of Norfolk's major employers have facilities within the evacuated area, including Nucor Corp., a steel producer, and Affiliated Foods.
Affiliated, a grocery wholesaler, is one of Norfolk's largest employers with about 675 workers. Two of Nucor's four Norfolk divisions were affected by the evacuation, a company official said.
http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2009/12/10/news/local/doc4b210dfda4a6c564841603.txt
RELATED:
New lease of Protient plant had just began days before fire
Just when there were brighter prospects for the former Protient manufacturing plant in Norfolk,Nebraska this happens.
** Cave Editor's Note: I worked at that 'former dairy plant' when I was going back to college in the late 1980's
