Pump to blame for fire, says company
Firefighters from at least 10 companies bring a large fire under control Sunday at the Rice Energy Papa Bear Marcellus Shale natural gas well pad in Somerset Township.
Officials with Rice Energy reported Monday a fire at the company’s Papa Bear site in Somerset Township Sunday was the result of equipment failure on a pump that is used in the completions process.
About 4 p.m. Sunday, crews at the Marcellus Shale natural gas well pad at 78 Lusk Road reported an equipment fire.
As many as 16 fire departments responded to the fire, which was extinguished by 5:34 p.m.
Rice Energy spokeswoman Kimberly Price said there were no injuries.
Six of the 20 pumps on the well pad were compromised during the fire, but no other equipment was damaged.
Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Tim Solobay said the fire did not ignite any natural gas.
Rice Energy said it is working with regulatory officials and first responders to investigate the incident and determine the cause for ignition of the pumps.
Company representatives are also meeting with area residents to address the incident.
“We are currently working with our neighbors and local officials to communicate the details of the incident and address any issues this matter may have caused,” said Price.
Some nearby residents “self-evacuated” Sunday after they saw the smoke and fire.
Mike Lauderbaugh, vice president of environmental health and safety for Rice Energy, said the company’s emergency preparedness plan was implemented as designed on Sunday.
“Rice Energy personnel and local first responders train together regularly to prepare for potentially hazardous situations,” he said.
Solobay said the fire became “a very controlled situation” because of the response of Ellsworth, Valley Inn and Fallowfield Township fire departments and the Washington County Hazardous Materials Response Team, the assistance of the other fire departments that provided tankers and air truck support, and Rice Energy.