Equipment Failure Blamed For BP Washington Refinery Fire

The manager of BP’s Cherry Point refinery in Washington says a fire earlier this month was most likely caused by equipment failure.

A failure in the “crude vacuum unit” led to the release of some heavier crude, which ignited when it came in contact with air.

Stacey McDaniel says the company is focusing on how the equipment failed and how to prevent it from happening in the future.

The refinery manager says the facility is mostly shut down and everyone is still focusing on the investigation.

The refinery can process 230,000 barrels of crude oil a day. It produces 20 percent of Washington’s gasoline and the majority of aviation fuel for the Vancouver, British Columbia, Sea-Tac and Portland airports..