Massive tank explodes near Moss Landing power plant

SALINAS, Calif. (AP) -- A massive fuel-oil tank caught fire and exploded Tuesday near a power plant in Moss Landing, sending flames hundreds of feet into the air and spewing sooty smoke over the Monterey Bay area. No injuries were reported.

Crews were preparing to dismantle the abandoned tank when the fire started about 4:15 p.m., said Pat Mullen, a spokesman for Duke Energy, which owns the plant. It held about 1.2 million gallons of fuel oil and water.

"The tanks had been drained of a majority of their product, but there remained some residual fuel oil and water at the bottom of the tank," he said. "That's what was ignited."

All employees have been accounted for, Mullen said.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the fire, which was surrounded by late Tuesday, said Capt. John Hasslinger of the North Monterey County Fire District. Firefighters prepared to gauge the blaze through the night, and its course would determine whether they would try to extinguish it with foam or let it burn itself out, Hasslinger said.

"It's definitely going to be an extended event for us," he said.

About a half dozen propane containers that were being used in the dismantling project also exploded, causing the fire to spread beyond the giant container. The flames were contained, however, within overflow dikes designed to capture oil if the tank ruptured, Hasslinger said.

Although no homes or structures were threatened due to the plant's isolated location, the explosions spewed thick clouds of smoke into the air, causing traffic back-ups on Highway 1 along the coast. Nearby residents were warned to stay indoors and to keep their windows closed.

"It's like a big storm coming in. I'm sure anyone within the three counties around here will be able to see that," Hasslinger said.

The six-million gallon tanks once held fuel for the nearby power plant. The containers are being dismantled because the facility has since converted to using cleaner natural gas to generate electricity, Mullen said.

The plant continued to generate electricity during the fire, he added.

Moss Landing is about 10 miles northwest of Salinas.