Commercial Fire at Petroleum Equipment Facility in Mobile

MOBILE, AL (WKRG) — Fire ripped through a petroleum equipment facility in Mobile Thursday evening.

The fire was reported around 5:00pm on at Hoffman Petroleum Equipment on Halls Mill Road. a man working nearby saw smoke then called 911.

“me and my coworker were just sitting out here talking and I saw smoke coming out of the building and out of the side of the window,” said Anthony Young. “Then explosions ‘boom, boom, boom’ and me and him started stepping back.”

According to officials with Mobile Fire-Rescue Department the building also stores flammable gas,  but the fire appears to have started in the rear of the building in a garage.

The fire looks like it began where the RV is parked. When the investigators are able to get inside they will hopefully be able to determine what may have caused it,” said Steve Huffman of Mobile Fire-Rescue.

Crews were able to get the fire contained in about an hour, but their concern now is run off because of the hazardous materials.

“There is a drainage system here and it all goes into Halls Mill creek so we are concerned about the product and the water washing everything into the creek. A hazmat crew is on the way and we have also notified Alabama Environmental Management,” said Huffman.

No one was injured in the fire.