VIDEO: Thursday morning brought a chaotic series of events as first responders raced across the valley when a fire broke out at an industrial fuel plant, prompting dozens of responders to work together before officials said the blaze was contained.
Dispatch received a call at 9:44 a.m. regarding a fire at a Golden Gate Petroleum facility in the northern desert off 21 Road in Fruita, officials said.
Lower Valley Fire District was the first to respond, joined by Grand Junction Fire Department (GJFD) and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), which provided safety and security for the scene.
Crews used both ground teams and aerial technology to monitor the situation. The Grand Junction Fire Department deployed a drone to view the scene from above using thermal and camera technology to assess damage to the plant and identify potential hot spots.
By late morning, officials said crews gained control of the fire and prevented further spread. “As of 11:30, the fire was considered contained,” said Molly Casey, Public Information Officer for MCSO. “There was a little bit of work after the fact to ensure that extra product was contained as well and that valves were shut off.”
Officials clarified that Golden Gate Petroleum was the utility company involved, with Xcel Energy responding to protect their equipment next door. “The only involvement that Xcel had in this was that they provided some of the natural gas lines to the plant itself,” Casey said. “So, this wasn’t actually an Xcel issue in the end.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officials said the scene is secure and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
