A driving snow storm further complicated firefighting efforts at a Colorado oil production site Monday. - Courtesy of Platteville-Gilcrest Fire Protection District

A driving snow storm further complicated firefighting efforts at a Colorado oil production site Monday.

Courtesy of Platteville-Gilcrest Fire Protection District

It took more than six hours working in frigid temperatures and blowing snow to extinguish a fire at an oil production site near Platteville, Colorado, on Monday night.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames climbing nearly 30 feet into the sky, the Facebook page for the Platteville-Gilcrest Fire Protection District reports. The source of the flames was a building housing a generator.

“Due to heavy fire, firefighters took a defensive fire attack approach to begin fire cooling measures,” the Facebook page states.

With flames covering an area more than 50 feet wide, fire crews rapidly set up water tender operations to supply firefighting apparatus. More than a dozen fire and EMS apparatus were called to the scene, including specialty foam trailers.

More than two dozen firefighters were provided by Platteville-Gilcrest, LaSalle, Fort Lupton, Platte Valley and Firestone Fire Departments. UC Health Emergency Medical Services were also on hand but no injuries were reported.

The site is operated by PDC Energy, an independent oil exploration and production company.

0 Comments