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DULUTH — An explosion involving a 17,000-gallon fuel tank injured a worker and triggered a fire Monday afternoon at a fuel transfer facility in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, prompting firefighters to cool two nearby tanks as crews worked to prevent the incident from spreading.
The Duluth Fire Department was dispatched at 1:29 p.m. to the facility at West Superior Street and Carlton Street.
The 17,000-gallon tank was mostly empty and was undergoing final fuel removal when the explosion occurred, according to the Fire Department. Two workers were at the site at the time.
One worker was injured and transported by Mayo Clinic Ambulance to an area hospital. The worker’s condition and extent of injuries were not immediately released.
Firefighters from Lincoln Park, Downtown, Spirit Valley and UMD responded.
A Lincoln Park fire crew was finishing another call nearby when firefighters heard the explosion and saw smoke. The crew immediately notified dispatch, requested additional equipment and responded to the facility.
Duluth police blocked traffic around the scene while firefighters attacked the fire and used water and foam to cool two adjacent tanks positioned near the burning tank.
The fire was quickly extinguished, eliminating the need for a significant evacuation of the surrounding Lincoln Park area, fire officials said.
Duluth fire and police personnel searched the area and found no additional victims. No firefighters were injured.
The Duluth Fire Department was assisted by Duluth police, St. Louis County deputies and dispatchers, and Mayo Clinic Ambulance.
