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Firefighters respond to fire at gas tank farm

By Cameron Steele
csteele@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013

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TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com
Firefighters battle a blaze at a tank farm on Mt. Holly Rd. in northwest Charlotte Saturday, February 16, 2013. TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com

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TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com
Police block the roadway as firefighters battle a blaze at a tank farm on Mt. Holly Rd. in northwest Charlotte Saturday, February 16, 2013. TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com

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TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer walks along the roadway as firefighters battle a blaze at a tank farm on Mt. Holly Rd. in northwest Charlotte Saturday, February 16, 2013. TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com

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Firefighters suspect a lightning strike or static discharge caused a 40,000-gallon tank of ethanol to explode and catch fire at the Eco-Energy tank farm off Mount Holly Road and Freedom Drive in northwest Charlotte.

The explosion occurred just after 4 p.m. Saturday. More than 70 firefighters responded to the scene to combat flames that were shooting 20 to 30 feet into the air, Capt. Mark Basnight said.

No one was injured in the explosion and firefighters had the fire under control in an hour and a half.

The fire shut down Freedom Drive in both directions near the tank farm, causing miles of backups on roads that were already treacherous from snow.

Steele: 704-358-5067 on Twitter: @steelecs

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