BTR CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING FACILITY'S LACK OF CONTINGENCY PLAN DURING HAZARDOUS FIRE NEAR ARPT THAT AFFECTED FLT RTES.

Date: 2006-08

Synopsis

BTR CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING FACILITY'S LACK OF CONTINGENCY PLAN DURING HAZARDOUS FIRE NEAR ARPT THAT AFFECTED FLT RTES.

Narrative

THERE ARE 5 CHEMICAL PLANTS; 4 TANK FARMS; AND UNKNOWN NUMBER OF GAS/CHEMICAL PIPELINES WITHIN A 5 MI RADIUS OF AIRFIELD. A FIRE AT THE TANK FARM JUST OFF THE N END OF RWY 13/31 OCCURRED AFTER A RAIN STORM. THERE WAS NO INSTRUCTION FROM SUPVR AS TO WHAT TO TELL DEPARTING ACFT (ON TKOF THESE ACFT WOULD BE NO MORE THAN 1000 FT ABOVE THIS FIRE AND ON LNDG; AROUND 500 FT ABOVE IT). THE SUPVR SEEMED TO HAVE NO PROB FLYING ACFT OVER THE TOP OF THIS FIRE. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO THE ARPT POLICE (CFR) WE (THE CPC'S) FINALLY SENT AN AIRWAYS FACILITIES TECHNICIAN TO THE SITE TO ASK THE FIRE CHIEF IN COMMAND; WHAT WAS ON FIRE; AND IF WE NEEDED TO KEEP ACFT AWAY FROM THAT AREA. WE WERE TOLD BY THE AIRWAYS FACILITIES TECHNICIAN THAT THE FIRE CHIEF WANTED ACFT TO NOT OVERFLY THAT AREA FOR FEAR OF THE TANK EXPLODING. THE NEXT DAY WE ASKED THE ATM FOR A CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR JUST THIS THING AND AS OF SEP/SAT/06 WE STILL HAVE NO GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT KIND OF OP TO RUN; NOR ANY AGREEMENTS WITH ANY OF THESE COMPANIES TO NOTIFY US AS TO WHAT IS ON FIRE AND THE RISK OF EXPLOSION. I FEEL THE SAFETY OF THESE ACFT AND PAX WAS COMPROMISED BY THE SUPVR TELLING US TO DEPART/LAND OVER A FIRE WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHETHER OR NOT AN EXPLOSION WAS IMMINENT.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.