Emergency Preparedness Fire Drill

Buckeye Facility Fire Safety and Emergency Response Simulation  

*Photos by Joe Bayona

Press Release 5/27/15

PERTH AMBOY – Mayor Wilda Diaz announced the collaboration of a full-scale fire and emergency response drill conducted by the Perth Amboy Fire Department and Buckeye Perth Amboy personnel which was held on Sunday, May 31st at the Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Perth Amboy terminal.

The objective of the exercise is to test the response of the local emergency personnel and water flow and pressure in the event of an actual fire emergency at the site.

Buckeye’s terminal is located at 1200 State Street, north of the Outerbridge Crossing and comprised of rail yards, tank farms, and loading and unloading facilities, designed for the handling of petroleum products.

The simulated scenario for the exercise was as follows:

The scenario for the drill will be a fire involving a petroleum crude oil train located on Buckeye property. Several tank cars were on fire with many exposed to the fire, along with employees that need to be rescued by the initial responding units.  The goal of the drill will was to flow water in excess of 5,000 GPM, while assembling 15,000 gallons of foam concentrate.

The coordinating parties included: The Perth Amboy Fire Department and mutual aid fire departments, Buckeye Perth Amboy terminal operations team, the Perth Amboy Police Department, the Office of Emergency Management, Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Emergency Medical Services, Large Diameter Hose (LDH) Strike Teams, Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) foam resources, the Middlesex County Fire Coordinators and the Middlesex County Tanker/Tender Task Force. Additionally, Middlesex County, Somerset, Monmouth, and Mercer county Tanker/Tender resources will be in use.

Buckeye followed procedure for drills as required by the State of New Jersey for the safety of the public. This was STRICTLY a simulated drill, in which no one’s life will be threatened and all safety procedures were followed.

The drill took place at Buckeye Partners Terminal Property (Parking Lot), 1200 State Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861