Rio Valley Biofuels fire under investigation
Last week catastrophe struck the Rio Valley Biofuels plant in Anthony, N.M., as multiple fires over several days destroyed the community-scale biodiesel facility.
“We are very thankful that there weren't any injuries, and we are still investigating the cause of the fire,” Donna Belcher with Rio Valley tells Biodiesel Magazine.
Local media outlets such as KVIA report that the company plans to rebuild, although it is unclear whether a new location will be considered.
Unfortunately, the biodiesel industry is not unfamiliar with accidental fires, but when these events do occur, this familiarity does not lessen the devastating impact it has—this is certainly true for those directly affected. We wish Rio Valley the best in its investigation and recovery efforts.
Stay tuned to BiodieselMagazine.com for more information on this developing story.
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2 Responses
Jamie Lohr
2014-06-04
1The prospect of a chemical fire at a biodiesel processing facility is frightening, and should be considered in any community where a plant might be sited. I was concerned about this when a small plant was located near homes (within 200 feet)a few years ago in our area, and being managed by novice biodiesel producers. Do municipalities know full well the risks involved? Certainly we wouldn't want to overstate the risks, but we don't want to understate them, either.
Graydon Blair
2014-06-04
2Here's hoping they're able to identify the cause & rebuild soon. They're an awesome group & I felt so bad when I heard the news.
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