Fire Causes APS Plant Evacuation

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.


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.


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.

  • 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.

  • Candidates Declare their Intent to Run in the June 4, 2024 Primary

    Some returning candidates and also some new names from Tuesday's filing day on March 12, 2024. These candidates have filed their notice to run in the June 4, 2024 Primary. Some candidates are unopposed. The winners in June will face off on November 5, 2024.

On KSJE Now:

Today's Weather

  • Farmington, NM

    Sunny intervals

    High: 77°F | Low: 46°F

  • Durango, CO

    Sunny intervals

    High: 70°F | Low: 36°F

  • Shiprock, NM

    Sunny intervals

    High: 82°F | Low: 46°F

  • Cortez, CO

    Sunny intervals

    High: 79°F | Low: 41°F

  • Santa Fe, NM

    Thunder storm

    High: 57°F | Low: 43°F