Explosion & Fire at South Philly Refinery this Morning

The explosion occurred at the same site where last week, City Council approved a new $60 million liquefied natural gas (LNG) plan.

Three separate explosions at the South Philly refinery happened and woke up residents around 4 AM. Blasts were felt as far as South Jersey and Delaware County. The three-alarm fire has subsided in the meantime, with four minor injuries to PES workers.

This is the second fire at the refinery in the past month.

According to WHYY, residents did not hear an emergency siren — because it did not appear to go off, for reasons unknown.

There were no evacuation issues and a shelter-in-place order for residents east of the refinery was lifted around 7 a.m.

Although officials say air quality testing show no immediate cause for alarm, the black smoke could be dangerous and likely indicates there’s carbon being emitted according to Drexel University professor Peter DeCarlo in a statement with the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A READYPhiladelphia alert was issued to cell phone at approximately 12:30 PM:

Liquid Gas Plant Approved LAST WEEK by City Council on Site where Explosion Occurred

Just last week, Philadelphia City Council approved a deal for a $60 million liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant on the same site.

As PennEnvironment said in a press release, “It’s also incredibly ironic that after months of debate about expanding the PES facility’s fossil fuel production for generations to come, that thirteen members of City Council voted last week to continue our reliance–and risk–on dangerous fossil fuels at the PES South Philly refinery.”

PennEnvironment urged Philadelphians to Call Mayor Kenney to reject the bill at 215-686-2181.

---

Featured image via NBC10’s Twitter.