Photo taken on June 21, 2019 shows the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery after the fire in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the United States. Firefighters have contained a massive fire erupting early Friday morning at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery in Philadelphia, local media reported, citing the authorities. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
WASHINGTON, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Firefighters have contained a massive fire erupting early Friday morning at a refinery in Philadelphia, eastern U.S. state of Pennsylvania, local media reported, citing the authorities.
So far no injuries or evacuations were reported.
The blaze erupted before 4 a.m. eastern time (0800 GMT) at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery, the largest oil refinery on the U.S. East Coast.
Deputy Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy said a vat of butane ignited and eventually exploded. A series of smaller explosions occurred as the fire worked its way through the myriad of pipes carrying fuel across the complex.
Residents nearby heard and felt explosions and social media videos showed flames shooting into the sky. Emergency managers issued a shelter-in-place for the neighborhood following the explosions.
The cause of the fire is still unclear. It's the second fire at the refinery in one month, following a fire on June 10 in which no injuries were reported, local media said.
The refinery's website says that the oil refining complex produces 335,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
