Oilfield Fire Monday Seen for Miles

Plumes of smoke that could be seen for miles Monday afternoon south of Lovell were the result of an oilfield fire.
According to the Lovell Chronicle, the fire 10 miles south of Lovell burned hot until the operating company, Rim Operating out of Englewood, Colorado, was able to turn off the flow of oil. Lovell Fire Chief Jim Minchow told the Chronicle that an oil treater station, which separates water from oil in the field, caught fire following a leak. Captain Bob Mangus said they had to wait to battle the blaze until all five wells that fed into the treater were shut down.
Minchow added that they could only monitor the fire, which was burning in an area in which there was flammable gas and other chemicals. He said the fire burned over a four hour period, and the fire crew left once the fire was reduced to a smolder.