Fire prompts evacuation of St. Paul Park refinery
A fire Tuesday in a section of the Northern Tier Energy refinery in St. Paul Park led to an evacuation, but the company says the fire was put out quickly.
The fire started in a vacuum tower at about 10:30 a.m. The unit was not in service and was undergoing maintenance, Northern Tier Spokesman Gary Hanson said.
"We evacuated our non-essential personnel in the abundance of safety," Hanson said. "Our refining personnel were able to extinguish the fire. We had units from some of our local communities standing by, but they were not needed. And so now we're currently evaluating the cause and assessing any damage that may have occurred."
Chemicals used in cleaning may have started the fire, he added.
The company's St. Paul Park facility refines crude oil to gasoline and diesel, which is distributed mostly to SuperAmerica gas stations in the Midwest. The company owns the SuperAmerica stations.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.