Local

Dramatic moments as crews race to battle an oil tanker fire in Haverhill

HAVERHILL, Mass. — Sky 25 captured a heart-stopping scene in Haverhill on Tuesday after a fire broke out at an oil company. It happened on Hale Street in Haverhill.

Two workers had to race to pull away a tube that appeared to have been feeding the burning truck. The men raced up the stairs of the rig beside the tanker, and one of them climbed on board the burning tanker to free the tube and then stomped on an open hatch to make sure it was closed.

The men were then able to get down off the rig as fire crews continued to pour water on the tanker.

“I heard first an explosion that shook my whole house and then there were multiple explosions after I come out, and there are flames like 10 to 20 feet. It burned for about an hour and they were not getting it under control,” said Richard Robinson, who lives nearby. “I was afraid the tanks are going to go up in smoke and level the houses around here. I kind of fear for my life because they keep putting tanks down here and they are all filled with oil.”

Firefighters agree there was a risk of a major explosion.

“It’s possible the tank itself could produce a problem with the amount of fuel it has in it,” said Haverhill’s fire chief, Robert M. O’Brien.

The visuals seem heroic but some of the residents say they were concerned about the energy company before the fire and this just exacerbated their concerns.

“It’s a big eye-opener for the community that these people promised everybody that they would not put up big tanks after they went to do the town meeting and then they went against everything that they said and they just won’t stop for two years,” Robinson said. “These guys have been building. It’s fine to build your own empire but at least think of the community when you do it and be safe.”

Several people on Hale Street brought out their cell phones like Robinson after hearing the fire.

After some of the complaints we were hearing from neighbors, we wanted to know if Broco Energy here has had any inspections or violations. A search of the OSHA website did not identify any but we know after today workers here will have to at least answer some questions as firefighters are still trying to figure out what caused the oil trucks that deliver home heating oil to go up in flames around noon Tuesday.

At this point, there doesn’t appear to be any injuries. We’ve also reached out to the company and are waiting to hear back. Several other vehicles were destroyed by flames and the nearby MBTA Commuter Rail service had to be shut down.

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