The bio-fuel explosion at the Port of Providence is yet another disaster in a never-ending stream of disasters
“Last night’s explosion at the port should remind us that storing fossil fuels, gas, oils, and other toxic chemicals in a neighborhood is never a good idea," said the People's Port Authority.
“Last night’s explosion at the port should remind us that storing fossil fuels, gas, oils, and other toxic chemicals in a neighborhood is never a good idea,” said environmental activist Monica Huertas on behalf of the People’s Port Authority, a grassroots organization stopping the new construction and expansion of fossil fuel in the Port of Providence. “We are so grateful that the fire was contained quickly and did not spread to the neighboring tanks. We are highly concerned about the lack of emergency notification to the community about the fire. We have been fighting for an emergency alarm system for almost a decade. We are asking Prov Port and DEM to thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire.”
The Port of Providence is the site of non-stop industrial and environmental disasters. The neighborhoods surrounding the Port suffer adverse health effects, including the highest possible rates of asthma.
A passerby on the highway noted what they described as a “mushroom cloud” over the explosion site.
According to Channel 10 News, the site of the explosion and fire was a 3000-gallon corn oil storage tank, which has also been described as “bio-fuel.” According to Channel 10 News:
Global Partners, who manages the terminal, said that no product releases have been observed from the fire.
“Our terminal operators, Health, Safety, and Environmental team… Clean Harbors and electrical contractors are on-site, isolating and evaluating the cause of the incident. While the affected infrastructure will remain out of service until the cause is determined and corrective actions are taken, the terminal is expected to resume operations later this afternoon,” a Global Partners spokesperson said in a statement.
Providence City Council President Rachel Miller and Majority Leader Pedro Espinal, who represents most of the neighborhoods surrounding the Port, write:
“We’re grateful to the firefighters from Providence, East Providence, Cranston, Johnston, Cumberland, and North Smithfield whose heroic efforts contained yet another massive blaze at the Port of Providence. Without their swift action, this fire could have had catastrophic consequences for the health and safety of South Providence residents. This latest incident underscores the ongoing environmental and public health risks posed by activity at the Port. We cannot afford to grow numb to these repeated disasters. We need companies operating at the port to take immediate action to reduce hazardous and polluting operations, and we need government partners to work with us to ban dirty and reckless uses at the port.
“Last week, the City scored a significant legal victory against Sea 3, a fossil fuel company seeking to irresponsibly expand their liquid petroleum gas delivery and storage. In the coming months, Providence City Council and the City Plan Commission will align the City’s zoning ordinance with the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan, which will put the Port of Providence on a new path away from heavy polluters and toward environmental justice. We don’t need more studies or delays; we need action. 2024 was a year of environmental disasters at the Port. Let’s make 2025 the year we put an end to them.”
Josh Estrella, representing Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, writes,
“The safety and public health of our neighbors remain Mayor Smiley’s number one priority. Providence Firefighters responded immediately to the scene yesterday upon reports of an explosion and were on the scene when the fire started, successfully containing the fire without any extension beyond the tank and without any injuries. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management was on the scene and could speak to any environmental concerns. Our colleagues at the Rhode Island Department of Health are best positioned to speak to health impacts, but given the length of the fire, we were able to contain any great risks to the surrounding area.”
The Port has been the location of a long series of dangerous incidents going back years, including an ethanol train derailment on Allens Avenue, at least two fuel trucks overturning and spilling their contents, a gas pipeline explosion behind a strip club, and a series of fires at Rhode Island Recycled Metals. The Port even had a Russian submarine catch fire, spewing unknown toxins into the air for several hours.
After attempting to severely limit the expansion of dangerous industries in the Port of Providence as part of its comprehensive plan, the Providence City Council reversed course and passed a diminished version that might someday lead to greater protections.
Last week, the Rhode Island Superior Court upheld the City’s zoning ordinance as amended in 2022. The ordinance bans the bulk storage of liquid propane gas (LPG) anywhere in the City
Two weeks ago, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha scored a minor victory against Rhode Island Recycled Metals (RIRM).
“Today’s decision represents a hard-fought victory for environmental protection and the health and safety of RIRM’s surrounding communities. I am grateful to Judge Stern for his thoughtful and thorough decision on this matter,” said Attorney General Neronha in a statement. “While we still believe that a full receivership is the best path forward, we are encouraged by the significant additional safeguards provided by this decision. As a result of today’s decision, the Special Master will now have complete control and management of the site’s environmental permitting process and compliance, including site remediation and stormwater pollution prevention. Rhode Island Recycled Metals has long caused significant harm to the residents of South Providence and has more or less gotten away with it for over 10 years. That stops now. We will continue to be vigilant in ensuring RIRM’s environmental compliance at this site and with this new Order, and we certainly won’t hesitate to take further action if necessary.”
The laws protecting communities are inadequate for the hazards of today. And instead of making them stronger to protect the public health and well being the incoming government is going to focus on screw the environment and climate, lets sell more fossil fuels and deforest the planet The problem with that approach is that communities are much more likely to prosper if we transform the the economy so that it focuses on climate justice. Clearly the incoming administration, more than most, does not care about our communities, so these disasters are likely to be ever more frequent.