Fire on a hydrogen gasholder

[NOTE of HIAD Validator: One source speak of a hydrogen gasometer, Spanish news speak in general of gas, others of natural gas or coal gas; considering the main product of the factory, it was chosen for this last version, but is rather doubtful]

This incident occurred at a coal gas storage (gasometer) system of a producer of foundry coke. The gasholder was a variable capacity tank, rising in height depending on the amount of gas stored, with a maximum capacity of 24,000 m3.
Company sources said that the fire was caused as a result of a spark and a gas leak that was being repaired by the operators.
The alarm went off at about 10:30 when the emergency services received notice of a fire at the gas tank. The fire fighters worked to avoid an explosion. At 11:30, the real possibility of an explosion forced the emergency management to evacuate all people living and working within a radius of 500 metres.
The initial fire slightly affected two operators who later re-joined the company.

gasometer

According to the company the storage system was checked every day. It ws in the process of being checked when the leak was detected.

According to local media, fire-fighters were standing on the roof of the gasholder and were poking a fire hose through an access hole. About one hundred residents and workers from surrounding businesses were evacuated from their homes and workplaces. They spent the day and night away from home as a precautionary measure.