DANIEL TYLER GOODEN

ST. JAMES – For almost four days fire crews from Chevron Chemicals and Motiva Enterprises worked to extinguish a fire in a Chevron column. “The fire was contained, but due to the limited number of openings the crews had difficulty in putting out the fire,” said Jeff Moore, media relations department. The column, which is used in their styrene manufacturing, was shut down due to an annual turnaround project when the fire was discovered. Contractors working on the column discovered the fire at 11 p.m., no one was working on the column at the time. “The column was purged of the product, but residual material and insulation fueled the fire,” said Moore. The contractors attempted to put out the flames but were unable. Chevron emergency crews were called to the scene, and the state police and other proper authorities notified, added Moore. Plant safety and environmental staff conducted air monitoring around the plant during the course of the fire. All readings indicated there was no danger to the public or the environment. Now that the fire has been put out, an investigation to determine the cause of the fire will be conducted. “The emergency response team did a great job. There were no injuries, and they safely put the fire out,” said Moore. The column is one of two such buildings used in the production of styrene. The plant has continued to stay open without laying off any employees. St. James employees worked more than 10 years without a single Occupational Safety and Health Administration lost-time accident from 1990 to 2000 at Chevron Chemicals. The plant received the National Petrochemical and Refiner’s Association’s highest safety award, the Distinguished Safety Award, in April 2000. The plant produces Styrene, an aromatic monomer used to produce a wide variety of polymers. The styrene is a liquid product sold to other companies which use it in the manufacturing of plastics, rubber products, papers and other substances.