TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013
Fire investigators are searching for answers after a blaze destroyed a pipeline coating facility in Leduc, Alberta.
Damage estimates from the fire at Global Fusion Coating Inc. ranged up to $3 million.
Authorities said the blaze broke out about 4:30 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 28). Almost 40 firefighters from the region fought the fire until 11 p.m.
Global Fusion Coating specializes in internal and external FBE pipe coating for the oil and gas industry. The company's website lists a one brand-new coating facility in Leduc, but company officials could not be reached Monday (March 4) to confirm whether it was the new facility that had been destroyed.
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| Facebook / Leduc Rep |
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The fire destroyed a facility at Global Fusion Inc., a pipeline coating company in Leduc, Alberta. The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined. |
The cause of the blaze is still unknown, but investigators had arrived on the scene, CTV News reported. No injuries were reported.
'Nothing Survived'
Even after the fire was brought under control, a track hoe was brought to the scene to tear off the side of the building, allowing easier access to flames and hot spots, Leduc Fire Chief Ernie Polsom told CTV News.
"We know it started in or around the process areas of the building, but with the amount of damage that occurred inside, it's taking a bit of time to narrow it in," said Polsom.
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| Global Fusion Coating |
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Global Fusion Coating's website touts a brand-new coating facility on two acres in Leduc. Company officials could not be reached for confirmation of the fire's location. |
Some reports said the fire had started near a furnace.
Polsom said concerns about chemicals inside were alleviated after speaking to business owners; however, air monitoring equipment was brought in to be sure. Experts determined there was no risk to the public.
The building is a total loss, and early estimates of damages were over $1 million, Polsom told the news station.
"Nothing survived the fire experience. There is an awful lot of specialized equipment in the building that's really hard to put and kind of estimate to. So, it's a very expensive fire," Polsom explained.
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| Facebook / Leduc Rep |
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Damage estimates ranged from more than $1 million to $3 million. The facility appeared to be a total loss after the blaze, the local fire chief said. |
Fire crews stayed on the scene throughout the night.
Full Evening Crew
A manager with the company said the fire had started during a shift change. Reports said that 30 employees were on hand at the time.
"The full evening crew had been in the structure when the fire started, but they had self-evacuated on our arrival," said Polsom.
"They're pretty shaken up," operations manager Kyuin Shim told CTV News.
"I talked to our project coordinator. He did a great job getting the guys out in time, and good thing we had some processes in place to get them out of the facility as quick as possible."
About Global Fusion
Global Fusion Coating's plant is located in the newly developed Leduc Business Park. The plant has a pipe preparation room, climate-controlled blasting rooms, three cure ovens, and a custom coating booth.
At the plant, pipe spools are fully prepared—technicians grind root welds and chamfer flanges, and fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) coatings are applied over a four-hour period. Three cure ovens and the custom coating booth can accomodate spools that are two to 24 inches in diamater and one to 25 feet in length.
The company has another location in Wainwright, Alberta.
Tagged categories: Accidents; Fire; Fusion bonded epoxy; Health & Safety; Oil and Gas; Paint application; Pipelines
