Press Release  
 
To:  All Media
 
Subject: Hazardous condition 
  
BAKERSFIELD, CA – At approximately 8:54 am the Kern County Fire Department responded to the report of a fire at Paramount Petroleum in the 1200 Block of China Grade Loop East of Oildale.

Approximately 29 Kern County and Bakersfield City Firefighters arrived on scene, including the Kern County Hazardous Materials Unit - Haz Mat 66.
 
Upon arrival, fire crews were alerted to a smoldering fire in the insulation material on the roof of a heated asphalt storage tank.  The tank contained approximately 312,000 gallons of product heated to 365 degrees.  This is a fixed roof tank, and due to safety reasons firefighters were not able to get onto the roof. The fire could be seen intermittently at the base of the vent pipe.

Two ladder trucks were set up to enable a light stream of water and foam mix to be applied to the roof from different sides simultaneously.   Kern County Firefighters will remain on scene until it can be established that the fire is completely extinguished.
 
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.

There were no reported injuries.
 
For more information and incident updates go to www.kerncountyfire.org 
Kern County Fire Department 
Office of Public Information 
5642 Victor Street
Bakersfield, CA 93308