The fire last month at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant was “preventable” due to factors including a lack of proper maintenance and an inadequate fire suppression system, an accident investigation report released Friday concluded. The Feb. 5 salt truck fire in the WIPP underground most likely started when a buildup of flammable fluids on the truck such as diesel fuel or hydraulic fluid came in contact with a hot surface such as the catalytic convertor, the Accident Investigation Board found. However, the root cause of the accident was a failure by contractor Nuclear Waste Partnership “to adequately recognize and mitigate the hazard regarding a fire in the underground,” the report states. “This includes recognition and removal of the buildup of combustibles through inspections, and periodic preventative maintenance, e.g., cleaning and the decision to deactivate the automatic onboard fire suppression system.”
The 29-year-old truck’s automatic fire suppression system had been deactivated in 2003. Upon noticing the fire, the truck operator tried to put it out with an extinguisher. When that failed, he activated the truck’s manual suppression system, which also was not successful. “The training and qualification of the operator was inadequate to ensure proper response to a vehicle fire. He did not initially notify the [Central Monitoring Room] that there was a fire or describe the fire’s location,” the report states. “The CMR response to the fire, including evaluation and protective actions, was less than adequate.” The Board concluded: “There were inconsistencies between procedures and training for fire response that led to an ineffective response to the salt haul truck fire.”
Members of New Mexico’s Congressional delegation expressed concern over the report’s finding. “The findings of the accident investigation board on the February 5th fire at WIPP are deeply concerning,” Sens. Martin Heinrich (D) and Tom Udall (D) said in a statement. “Fortunately, no one was hurt. The community of Carlsbad and the nation expect WIPP to operate with the highest level of safety. The board has identified a number of serious safety concerns that will need to be fully addressed. We believe all levels of management at the Department of Energy and at WIPP must take the recommendations from the board very seriously and fully implement them.”
Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) said in a statement: This transparent report highlights the sloppy procedures that caused the fire. … I applaud the Department of Energy for producing a candid, transparent report that takes responsibility for its failures in oversight, training and other areas crucial to the operation of WIPP. This report shows operational shortcomings, and highlights what the Department and contractor must do to rectify the situation. New Mexicans expect and deserve to know the full truth. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, but it must never happen again.”