WAYLAND, Mich. — Crews from all over West Michigan responded to an oil well fire near Wayland Monday afternoon.
The fire is now out, authorites say.
Allegan County dispatchers say the fire broke out near 10th Street and 131st Avenue.
Authorities were alerted to a large plume of smoke, one that could be seen for several miles. A tank farm had caught fire, said Frank Post, the emergency manager for Allegan County.
"Apparantly there was an ignition of the crude oil that was in one of the tanks," said Post. The tank was in a containment area, and "that was all on fire."
We’re told nearly a dozen agencies have responded to the fire, which Post said was a petroleum fire and had to be treated with foam and smothering agents, not just water.
The surrounding oil wells were shut down.
No one was injured, said Post. No one was on scene when the fire started, he added.
At this time, Post said he's not aware of any environmental concerns. "It was contained within that containment area," he explained.
Wayland Fire Department was assisted by fire departments in Dorr, Otsego, Leighton, Hopkins, Gun Plain and Martin, as well as law enforcement support from Allegan County Sheriff, Department of Natural Resources and Gun Lake Tribal Police.
Grand Rapids Fire Department was also called to the scene with a hazmat team and key support. "The local departments involved had the equipment to put it down. They just didn't have the amount of foam they needed," said Post.
The exact cause of the fire is still unknown.
This story is developing and will be updated when we learn more information.
