Building at Pt. MacKenzie gas plant explodes, no one hurt

December 17, 2009

A maintenance building at a natural gas facility at Point MacKenzie exploded just before 8 a.m. (Photo courtesy Deputy Chief Mike Keenan)

by Channel 2 News staff
Thursday, December 17, 2009

Point MacKenzie, Alaska – A maintenance building at a natural gas plant on Point MacKenzie, across Knik Arm from Anchorage, exploded just before 8 a.m. Thursday, according to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

The 60-foot by 30-foot building burned to the ground, but no one was injured, Dennis Brodigan, Mat-Su director of emergency services, said. Mat-Su Public Affairs Director Patty Sullivan said there were three explosions at the facility.

The building was used to house empty gas tanks. In the explosion, the roof and walls were blown off with debris landing 40 to 50 feet away.

The Fairbanks Natural Gas plant feeds trucks bound for Fairbanks delivery, where a small percentage of homes are heated with gas.

Brodigan stressed that it was not the main production area that was affected.

Hazardous materials crews, fire engines and tankers were at the scene as of about 9 a.m., but they had decided to let the fire burn itself out.

Brodigan says there are no other buildings or property to protect at this point, and the only thing fueling the fire is the remnants of the building. All gas has been shut off into and out of the facility, and because of that, Brodigan said, there is a relatively low risk of major explosions now.

The state fire marshal's office says it is still conducting its investigation into what ignited the blaze that was still burning hours later.

Fairbanks Natural Gas declined to comment.

"Fortunately nobody was hurt, there was workers here on site who heard a small explosion, and then witnessed, basically, a larger explosion as they were exiting the area," said Kelly Nicolello, deputy director at the state fire marshal's office.

The fire marshal's office says Fairbanks Natural Gas may be operational again by tomorrow.

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