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A huge blaze erupted after an explosion in a Philadelphia oil refinery butane vat Friday morning triggered a series of deafening bangs and sent a massive fireball into the sky that could be seen for miles.

Fires were still burning at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refining complex in South Philadelphia more than 12 hours later, as fire chiefs said it was unsafe to access emergency valves to shut off the main supply.

Some Pennsylvania residents who were jolted from their beds mistook the explosion for thunder, other witnesses thought they'd seen a meteor and noted debris fell from the sky into their neighborhoods and back yards. 

Footage posted on social media showed plumes of smoke towering over the refinery.

Reuters reported a veteran refinery worker who was there when the fire broke out said: 'It was the worst I've ever experienced. It looked like a nuclear bomb went off. I thought we were all going to die.' 

In a video clip filmed by a shocked onlooker, he is heard yelling: 'Holy s**t! 

Deputy Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy says the blaze started in a tank that holds a mix of propane and butane. 

The fire broke out around 4am and people 60 miles away in South Jersey said they heard the loud bangs. 

Explosions occurred at the largest oil refinery in the East Coast in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The enormous fireball was described by one Philadelphia resident as looking like a 'meteor'

Nearby residents said that debris fell from the sky into their neighborhoods and gardens

Those in Philadelphia told NBC their walls shook so violently that pieces of artwork fell to the floor. 

A neighbor who lives near the complex told NBC Philadelphia: 'I thought it was a meteor or something' after seeing an enormous black cloud mushrooming from the facility.   

One person wrote on Twitter that they were on I-95 when fire broke out and 'could feel the heat right through the car'. 

A witness named Jesse told Newsflare: 'I felt the heat, it was a quick intense heat after the fireball.' 

David Masur, executive director of nonprofit environmental group, PennEnvironment, told Philadelphia Enquirer: 'I was woken up by three loud boom, boom, booms. I thought an electric transformer in the neighborhood had exploded. It was jarring. I have two young kids in the house.

'If I live about a mile away and could hear it in the dead of night, you can imagine what it’s like if you lived next door and the impact on local families.' 

Footage showed emergency responders driving over the bridge, sirens blazing, to get to the scene before sunrise. The refinery has its own fire brigade and the Philadelphia Fire Department supported their operations.

Approximately 120 firefighters responded to the three-alarm fire. Firefighters had 51 apparatus on the scene.

Updating the media 12 hours after the blast, Deputy Fire Commissioner Murphy said the fire was controlled and contained, but it was not safe for workers to access the valve to shut it off

He said it was safer to burn off the fuel rather than fully extinguish the blaze, since the gases would still be flowing into the atmosphere.

The crude section at the Girard Point section of the refinery that was opened by Gulf Oil Corp in 1926, was closed down, intelligence provider Genscape said. 

The explosion originated from the 30,000 barrels per day alkylation unit that uses hydrofluoric acid, one of the deadliest chemicals in the refining business, a source familiar with plant operations said. 

The Philadelphia Energy Solutions fire was reported at 4.05am and was contained 5.30am

By 7am there were still flames but they had decreased significantly

Firefighters were cooling tanks surrounding the area of the 150-year-old plant but plumes of dark smoke covered most of the city.

The Platt Bridge and parts of Interstate 76 were briefly closed, diverting multiple SEPTA commuter bus routes in order to let first responders through. 

Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management asked residents and workers at businesses east of the scene to remain indoors until further notice. The order was soon lifted and the Philly OEM said it was precautionary due to smoke.

The Philadelphia Fire Department warned locals to avoid the area near Passyunk and 26th Street due to amount of fire apparatus and first responders. 

The fire was somewhat contained around 5.30am, CBS Philly reported. By 7am there were still flames but they had decreased significantly.   

Philadelphia Energy Solutions spokeswoman Cherice Corely said authorities were still working to account for all plant staff. Deputy Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy reported that no one was missing.

Initial explosion came from a vat of butane in the 30,000 barrels per day alkylation unit that uses hydrofluoric acid, one of deadliest chemicals in refining

Residents reported hearing a series of explosions and the flames could be seen for miles

A witness said they could feel the heat from Philadelphia Energy Solutions through their car

'Refinery emergency response crews and the Philadelphia Fire Department are attempting to bring the fire under control. We are in the process of accounting for all personnel. There were no significant injuries,' a company spokesperson said.  

A worker complained of chest pains but was not hospitalized. 

Murphy said employees were far enough away from the initial explosion in the butane 'like you fill your lighter with' vat to not be injured. 

Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said Friday afternoon: 'Members of the Philadelphia Fire Department continue to assist PES with the fire response. It is standard practice when fighting a fire of this type to let the flammable gases burn away in a controlled fashion.

'Earlier this morning, our EMS providers treated one individual on scene who refused transport. We have since learned from PES that four other individuals were treated by their on-site medical clinic.

'The Fire Marshal’s Office will investigate the cause and origin of the fire once the incident is over and the scene is safe to enter. But the investigation will take time. For now, this remains a dynamic situation.'

But the air quality was being monitored. 

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health said: 'Air Management Services was on-scene immediately and took air samples. Preliminary testing at the refinery, and in the community around, found no ambient carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons (combustibles), or hydrogen sulfides.'

Samples were taken and transported to the Air Management Services Lab and no findings pointed to any immediate danger in the surrounding community.

Philadelphia Department of Public Health tweeted: 'The City is NOT recommending evacuation or shelter-in-place.'

Remaining smoke in the area was being blown by 5mph winds towards Walt Whitman Bridge, Camden and Gloucester City. 

A thick cloud of dense black smoke carpeted the city on Friday morning and roads were closed

Footage shows some of 120 emergency responders driving over the bridge to get to the scene

A veteran worker said: 'It was the worst I've ever experienced. It looked like a nuclear bomb went off. I thought we were all going to die' 

A worker complained of chest pains but was not hospitalized. No injuries were immediately reported

The Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refining complex processes 335,000 barrels per day and employs 1,000 people

The PES refining complex is the largest of its kind on the US East Coast, according to its website, and processes 335,000 barrels of crude per day.

PES is a partnership between fuel distributor Sunoco, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer LP, and US-based investment firm The Carlyle Group, according to its website. 

The Atlantic Refining Co. opened at Point Breeze in 1870. The plant and the Girard Point refinery next to it were acquired between 1988 and 1994. 

It was the second fire at the complex, which employs around 1,000 people, in five weeks.  

Thick plumes of black smoke were a concern for locals as the dark clouds loomed over the city

The Philadelphia Energy Solutions complex in Pennsylvania is seen at dawn

Flames and smoke emerge from the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining Complex in Philadelphia on Friday, June 21

A blaze erupted there on June 10 in the 50,000-barrels-per-day catalytic cracking unit but no injuries were reported.

News of the explosion caused gasoline futures traded on NYMEX to spike 4.8 percent.

The incident comes as the refiner is struggling financially after the Environmental Protection Agency approved sales of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol for the entire year-round as opposed to the previous restriction to eight months per year.

PES has been slashing worker benefits and scaling back capital projects to save cash as their costs increase due to the mandate. 

If the damage is significant, there will be questions as to whether the company has enough money to rebuild.

Mayor Jim Kenney met with the PES and city officials on Friday. 

The Philadelphia Fire Department shared images of the scene on Friday afternoon and there was still dark smoke in the sky

Five people were treated by on-site medical team including a worker with chest pain

Fire Commissioner said the fire response mission continues and it is 'standard practice when fighting a fire of this type to let the flammable gases burn away in a controlled fashion'

Kenney said in a statement: 'I am aware of the concerns of the residents around the refinery in light of this incident, as well as another fire on June 10th. I convened a conference call this morning with leadership of PES, along with PFD and the Managing Director’s Office, and was assured that the two incidents are unrelated in their nature and cause. 

Elected officials who represent residents in South and Southwest Philadelphia, including Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, State Representative Maria Donatucci, State Representative Jordan Harris, as well as staffers representing U.S. Senator Bob Casey and U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, joined the meeting. 

'Still, I believe that there is room for improvement, both in the operation of the refinery in light of two fires in as many weeks, and in the communication to residents,' Kenney continued. 

'To that end, I have asked Managing Director Brian Abernathy and Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel to convene a working group with the leadership of Philadelphia Energy Solutions, as well as members of its Community Advisory Panel, to explore both concerns. A particular focus will be ensuring that air quality questions during such incidents are addressed immediately and communicated effectively to residents.'

Mayor Jim Kenney met with the PES and city officials on Friday and said in a statement afterwards he was assured that the two fires in two weeks are unrelated in nature and cause

The Philadelphia Energy Solutions oil refinery owned by The Carlyle Group is seen at sunset in front of the Philadelphia skyline (file image from March 2014)