'I Knew That Wasn't Normal:' Witnesses Describe Intense Petroleum Tank Fire In Tulsa

A fire broke out Tuesday morning at Axel Royal Manufacturing’s petroleum tank farm near Charles Page Boulevard and the Arkansas River, sending plumes of black smoke visible for miles.

Emergency crews quickly extinguished the blaze, and no injuries were reported.

Tulsa firefighters believe the fire began around 10 a.m. at the tank farm. Crews used foam to put out the flames and water to cool the surrounding tanks.

Witnesses described the fire as intense and alarming.

“I saw the fire, and I knew that wasn’t normal,” said Jim Wolfe, who witnessed the blaze. “As I got closer, I was hoping I’d see the source.”

Kyle Hopkins, an emergency response coordinator for BMS Cat, noted the severity of the fire based on the smoke.

“From what I could tell from the odors and the color of the smoke and the ferocity of it, you could tell it was a chemical or oil fire,” Hopkins said.

Aryn Johnson, an off-duty Tulsa County detention officer, was nearby and called 911.

“When I got down there, no one was there. It was big, engulfed in flames and black smoke up in the air. You could see it all over the city,” Johnson said.

Concerns about toxic chemicals and fumes arose due to the fire’s proximity to an RV park, the Tulsa County Social Services building, several businesses, and a bus stop.

“Fortunately, there was a project manager on scene that knew which valve to shut off so it wouldn’t continue to feed the fire,” Hopkins said. “HazMat, Tulsa fire crews, and the Holly fire crews worked together to get it contained and knocked down.”

All employees evacuated safely, and firefighters said determining the cause of the fire could take several days.