Official: Fire at Mich. fuel facility 'mostly out'

[August 05, 2009]  VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- Authorities say crews have contained a fire at a Michigan fuel storage facility where a stubborn blaze caused several oil barrels to explode and prompted area evacuations.

Clio Assistant Fire Chief Kerry Paulson said Wednesday morning the fire was "mostly out" at the White Oil Co. facility about 65 miles north of Detroit. He says a crew of six to eight firefighters and a truck shooting flame-retardant foam battled the blaze overnight.

Paulson said at least 25 fire departments and more than 100 firefighters helped fight fire that started about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Exploding fuel barrels, many 50-gallon drums filled with oil, had flown about 50 feet into the air. One ignited an adjacent building.

Paulson said two firefighters received minor injuries.

[Associated Press]

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