Disaster averted in Hillburn transformer fire
The substation on fire, which carries around 60,000 gallons of oil, is 150 feet away from part of Suez' drinking water network, according to Rockland fire officials.
HILLBURN - A possible environmental disaster was averted Friday evening as fire agencies responded to a "significant" transformer fire in Hillburn, according to Rockland County Fire Coordinator Gordon Wren.
The transformer blaze, which began at 7 p.m. and remained active at 10:30 p.m., is 150 feet away from the Torne Brook, an artery of the Ramapo River. The river contains several wells that provide drinking water for millions of people in Rockland and parts of New Jersey, according to county fire officials.
"If this incident was not handled properly, this could’ve affected the drinking water for millions," Wren said. "The potential for bigger disaster was great."
The 500,000-volt substation carries around 60,000 gallons of oil, Wren said.
Because of the risks, Hillburn officials decided to let the fire burn itself out rather than hitting it with water and risk letting a toxic mix of water, foam and oil seep into the Torne Brook.
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There are no injuries and no power outages as of 10 p.m., Orange & Rockland Utilities officials said.
According to fire officials they don't believe there was any immediate danger to surrounding residents at this time.
Substation power, however, will be shut down at some point, possibly resulting in power outages in the region, according to the Ramapo Police Department.
The fire, at 333 Torne Valley Road, is being fought by at least a half-dozen agencies including the Rockland County Haz-Mat unit, Hillburn Assistant Fire Chief Ed Kelly said.
"We may be here for quite a long time," he said.
Torne Valley Road past Torne Brook Road is expected to be closed for several hours.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. O&R officials said they were monitoring the situation.