A pump at a jet fuel tank farm near downtown San Diego caught fire yesterday, briefly sending a column of dark smoke over Harbor Drive and pulling multiple fire crews to the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. Firefighters got water on the flames fast, knocking the blaze down within minutes, while a hazardous materials team stayed into the early evening to check for any environmental fallout along the waterfront.
According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the initial call came in just after 5:15 PM. The incident was quickly bumped up to a three-alarm response, and crews had the pump fire extinguished before 5:40 p.m. The outlet reports that firefighters from Coronado and a nearby federal facility assisted, although additional engine companies ultimately were not needed.
“We were grateful it was not worse,” Capt. Jason Shanley told The San Diego Union-Tribune, crediting crews with quickly getting the situation under control. Shanley said firefighters were able to keep the fire contained to the small pump and prevent it from jumping to nearby equipment.
High-stakes location at the port
The pump is located in a liquid bulk zone next to the Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, a long-established hub for transfers of bunker, diesel and aviation fuel. Port environmental documents identify the Jankovich fuel facility at TAMT and describe pipelines and storage tanks that feed ship berths and the airport, highlighting why any fire involving fuel infrastructure brings an immediate hazmat response, as outlined by the Port of San Diego.
Hazmat sweep and what happens next
The City of San Diego’s Hazardous Materials Incident Response Team, a Type‑1 countywide resource that pairs San Diego Fire-Rescue with county environmental health specialists, responded to evaluate air quality and potential surface contamination, according to the department. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department notes that the team’s role is to identify, contain and mitigate chemical hazards and to coordinate with regulators after fuel incidents, which is standard procedure at waterfront fuel facilities.
Fire officials said crews cleared the scene after initial mitigation work and hazmat evaluations, and investigators are now examining the equipment and the affected pump to determine what triggered the blaze. Nearby maritime operations and surrounding neighborhoods reported no significant immediate disruptions while firefighters handled the incident.
