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>> i heard it erupt inside the tank before the flare went off. that's what startled me, got my attention. at that time, we was basically looking for an escape route. >> somehow, firefighters survive the cloud of flames with only minor injuries. >> we had a sprained ankle, extended knee. i had slight hearing loss in my left ear. it come back shortly after that. our firefighting experience helped but the grace of god was -- was the main reason. >> the tall tank in the middle called the gun barrel separates oil from water. the explosion occurs when the oil, made dangerously hot by the fire, flows...

Through a relief valve that vents gas. to firefighters, the flare is a signal that the tank might explode, and they begin to retreat seconds before it blows up. >> i heard it erupt inside the tank before the flare went off. that's what startled me, got my attention. at that time, we was basically looking for an escape route. >> somehow, firefighters survive the cloud of flames with only minor injuries. >> we had a sprained ankle, extended knee. i had slight hearing loss in my left ear. it come back shortly after that. our firefighting experience helped but the grace of god was -- was the main ...

They had knocked the actual fire down considerably. >> but this fire has a mind of its own. and suddenly, goes on the offensive, catching firefighters by surprise. >> i didn't know that the tank was going to rupture that violently. it really happened really fast. at that point in time, you almost become like a deer in headlights. you almost freeze. >> the tank starts to flare fire through a relief valve that vents gas. to firefighters, the flare is a signal that the tank might explode, and they begin to retreat seconds before it blows up. >> i heard it erupt inside the tank before the flare we...

That's what startled me, got my attention. at that time, we was basically looking for an escape route. >> somehow, firefighters survive the cloud of flames with only minor injuries. >> we had a sprained ankle, extended knee. i had slight hearing loss in my left ear. it come back shortly after that. our firefighting experience helped but the grace of god was -- was the main reason. >> the tall tank in the middle called the gun barrel separates oil from water. the explosion occurs when the oil, made dangerously hot by the fire, flows through a pipe into the smaller tank that contains raw crude...

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