Smoke plume from Valero refinery reportedly caused by MLGW power blink; SCHD monitoring
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Memphis Fire Department and Action News 5 newsroom received many calls Tuesday night about thick black smoke causing a spectacle in the sky over Southwest Memphis.
An unusually large flame and smoke plume from the Valero refinery located at 2385 Riverport Road on President’s Island could be seen even from a distance. Representatives from Valero and the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) say the concerning sight was a result of the power blink experienced by many Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) customers Tuesday night.
Valero will send a preliminary report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Memphis-Shelby County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the Shelby County Health Department in the coming days.
Wednesday afternoon, Valero released the following statement:
The Shelby County Health Department also released a statement in response to the community’s concerns:
The plant does have its own firefighting resources.
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