Hundreds of firefighters had worked round the clock to contain the fire and attempt to put it out: SCDF deployed more than 100 firefighters and 34 fire-fighting apparatus, as well as cooling jets to protect nearby tanks from the radiant heat.
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops also joined SCDF and police officers in setting up command posts at the Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal. SAF assets on standby include a Super Puma helicopter and three navy fast crafts.
While the company confirmed there were no more leaks, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) remained on standby last night as there were traces of vapour in the area.
The damage had been done: Shell has been forced to begin shutting down the refinery, its largest worldwide.
In a statement issued after the fire was put out, a Shell spokesperson said: "Safety is our top priority. We are prepared to shut down all refinery units if this is considered necessary from a safety perspective, with the exception of utilities."
The company has already shut several units in the vicinity of the fire, including a hydrocracker. A full shutdown will take two days.
According to Shell's preliminary investigation, the fire could have started during maintenance work but the company was unable to provide further details.
ORIGINAL SOURCE
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