A fire broke out on Tuesday morning at the CrossBridge oil refinery in Fredericia, Denmark. According to Maria Søgård, a communications officer with the Triangle Area Fire Department (Trekantsområdets Brandvæsen), the fire was discovered after an automatic fire alarm was triggered at 10:20 AM, after which the refinery reported the incident itself.

Currently, there are 18 firefighters on the scene, with an additional 14 en route to assist. “It is always a serious matter when a fire occurs at a refinery,” stated Maria Søgård. “That’s why it is important to have sufficient personnel to allow for shifts when they become fatigued.”

The sections of the refinery where the fire broke out have been shut down, although this is a time-consuming process. “It’s not as simple as turning off a tap,” she explained, as firefighters continue to bring the situation under control.

The cause of the fire remains unclear, but initial reports suggest that some crude oil may have leaked and spontaneously ignited. “We cannot say how the leak occurred yet,” Maria Søgård added.

Fortunately, no injuries have been reported as a result of the fire, and all employees not involved in firefighting efforts have been evacuated from the area. There is also no risk of explosion, and the affected area is limited, meaning that residents of the city are not in danger. However, they can expect to smell burnt asphalt for the remainder of the day.

The Southeast Jutland Police (Sydøstjyllands Politi) are also present and monitoring the situation.