Fire Causes APS Plant Evacuation

Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 12:00 AM

The fire was located in the crystallizer brine concentrator tower, located on the North side of the plant, where decommissioning of Units 1 – 3 is being conducted. Fire fighters were able to extinguish the tower fire shortly after 1 p.m., with no impact on Units 4 and 5. Employees of the plant were evacuated without incident. No injuries were reported to employees or responders and all parties are accounted for. Four Corners Power Plant has set up water stations to assist fire fighters as they continue “Mop Up” procedures.

From the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management:

San Juan County Volunteer Fire Fighters responded to reports of a tower fire at Four Corners Power Plant at approximately 10:54am.

San Juan County Fire Command Staff, Volunteer Fire Fighters, Farmington Fire, APS Fire Brigade, San Juan County Emergency Management, San Juan County Sheriff’s Deputies, and NM State Police Officers were dispatched to contain the fire.

Employees of the plant were evacuated without incident. No injuries were reported to employees or responders and all parties are accounted for. Four Corners Power Plant has set up water stations to assist fire fighters as they continue “Mop Up” procedures.

The toxicity risk posed by titanium dioxide is low; accordingly, Four Corners Power Plant staff will be looking at all possible environmental effects. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

More from Local News

Lauren Laws Named Interim Superintendent for Aztec Schools

For 15 years, Lauren Laws has dedicated her career to Aztec Schools, beginning as a Special Education teacher in 2008. In 2010 she transitioned to General Education, where she spent six years in the classroom working with 4th and 5th graders at Park Avenue Elementary while completing work on her Master's Degree. During her tenure at Park Avenue Elementary, she also served a Lead Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Lauren has spent the past three years serving as the Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for the district.
Durango Picks Brice Current to be New Police Chief

Brice Current was a former narcotics agent with the San Juan County Sheriff's Office in Aztec, NM. He was hired as Durango's Deputy Police Chief in 2019.
Waterflow Fire Kills 1

Crews arrived to find a camp trailer on fire and one occupant still inside. Another occupant was transported to the hospital with minor injuries and has since been released. Despite a quick response from fire crews, one occupant was found dead in the trailer after the fire was extinguished. The name of the deceased is not yet released.
Farmington Schools Hires first Armed Campus Safety Monitor

The FMS Board of Education authorized school security personnel to carry firearms on school premises during their January 9, 2024, meeting. The move paved the way for the hiring of Armed Campus Safety Monitors (ACSMs), former certified law enforcement officers tasked with providing an additional layer of protection for students and staff during emergencies.
City Breaks Ground on Pinon Hills Extension

Farmington Officials gathered with representatives from the NM Department of Transportation and San Juan County to break ground on the long-anticipated Pinon Hills Boulevard Extension Project. San Juan County announced that design work on their section of the project is 90% completed.
Back to Bloomfield: Summers Selected as New Superintendent

Kevin Summers will be returning to the Bloomfield School District as Superintendent, after the retirement of Dr. Kim Mizell at the end of the current school year. Summers' hire makes an opening in the Superintendent's Office in Aztec where he has served for the past three years.