Plant fire 'caused by oil leak'

A fire at the Martin Drake coal-fired power plant in Colorado Springs, US, was caused by an oil leak, according to a preliminary investigation. The fire occurred on Monday (May 5th), forcing a shutdown of the plant and resulting in a power outage for over 22,000 people. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, but no major injuries were reported.

The fire broke out on Monday morning, prompting fire fighters and emergency services to be onsite by 9.40am local time. By the afternoon, the fire was declared as being under control before being extinguished. Although the blaze didn't spread to any nearby buildings, around 785 residents, several businesses and a nearby railway were all evacuated as a precaution, said the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD).

Once the fire was put out, an investigation into its cause began. The CSFD has declared that initial findings show that lubricating oil was able to come into contact with steam pipes that were at high temperatures. This accidental contact sparked the blaze. It is not yet clear what caused the lubricating oil leak, but investigations are still underway.

The full extent of the damage to the facility is not yet known and Springs Utilities, the plant operator, has not announced when operations will be restarted. However, it has reassured customers that it will be able to meet with energy demands while it examines what an extended shutdown of the plant could mean. Usually the 252 megawatt power plant provides around a third of the area's power throughout the year.

“We are still able to meet electric demands and all other services are functioning. Nixon, Front Range, Birdsall and Local Hydro are operating,” Springs Utilities said in an update about the fire. “We are also taking advantage of our long-term purchase power agreements and purchasing power on the spot market as needed.”