Olympic Pipeline explosion
Whatcom Falls Park
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| Time | 04:55 PT |
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| Date | June 10, 1999 |
| Location | Bellingham, Washington's Whatcom Falls Park, United States |
| Deaths | 3 |
On June 10, 1999, a gasoline pipeline operated by Olympic Pipeline Company exploded in Bellingham, Washington's Whatcom Falls Park. The disaster started at 3:25 that afternoon when a gasoline pipeline ruptured due to various errors and malfunctions on the part of Olympic Pipeline and others. The gasoline vapors exploded at 5:02, sending a fireball down Whatcom Creek. Three people died in the accident.
Olympic Pipeline Company runs a network of fuel pipes beginning at refineries in Whatcom County and Anacortes and running south to Seattle and Portland, Oregon. In 1999, the pipeline was owned and operated by Equilon, a joint venture between Shell and Texaco. Today the pipeline is owned by BP.
The disaster began as Olympic Pipeline was transporting gasoline from Cherry Point Refinery to terminals in Seattle and Portland, Oregon. A pressure relief valve that was not configured properly failed to open in the 16 inches (410 mm) pipeline, which resulted in a surge of pressure after an automatic valve shut for reasons unknown. This resulted in the line rupturing at 3:25 that afternoon, and gasoline began spilling into adjacent Hanna and Whatcom Creeks. As the gasoline continued to spill, many people in the area called 911 to report the leak, and an Olympic Pipeline employee who was in the area called the company to report it.
When the Bellingham Fire Department arrived, massive amounts of gasoline had turned the creek pink, and the fumes were overwhelming. The fire department notified Olympic Pipeline of the leak and evacuated the area around the creek.
The gasoline exploded at 5:02 PM. The black smoke plume extended to an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,100 m)and the smoke from the explosion was visible from Vancouver to Anacortes. Whatcom Creek was turned into a river of fire, which exceeded 2,000 °F (1,090 °C). Local businesses were evacuated, Interstate 5 was closed to traffic, and the Coast Guard stopped maritime traffic in Bellingham Bay in anticipation of the fire travelling the entire length of the creek. However, the fire never extended past Interstate 5.
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