Date: May 15, 2008 @ 2:50 PM Contact: Debbie Bryars, P.R. – At approximately 1403 (2:03 PM) on Wednesday May 14th a fire broke out at Bender’s Shipyard in the engine room of a Towing Supply Boat. It was reported that approximately 4,600 gallons of #2 diesel fuel was on board. The first arriving company called for a second alarm realizing the demands of the fuel fire required that additional units. This fire resulted in a Third Alarm fire at approximately 1445 (2:45 PM). The Fire Chief and his staff as well as the Training Officers and numerous others responded to the scene to offer various areas of support and supplies. The recruits currently involved in firefighter training we utilized as well. Several attempts were made to control the fire, including application of foam, but these did not control the fire successfully. The request as made to Mobile County’s Emergency Management Agency for additional foam in the event it was needed. Just over one thousand gallons was directed to the scene by EMA from Shell Chemical in north Mobile County. Approximately 300 gallons of the foam has been utilized with the remaining 1,000 gallons on standby at the scene. An explosion that occurred during the afternoon sent two firefighters to the hospital for treatment. One man was treated and released and the other was held over, due to second and third degree burns, as a precaution. A third firefighter was also transported to the emergency room and evaluated and released. He had been involved in firefighting earlier and had a medical evaluation. They are all in stable condition. The names are as follows: Tommy Bishop, 52 years old - 29 1/2 years with the department, suffered facial injuries Tommy Davis, 32 years old - 2 years with the department, suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns to face Marty Emerson 42 years old – 15 ½ years with the department, evaluated for medical complaint The decision was made to withdraw from the vessel and fight the fire with water from ladder trucks and the fire boat. This continued through the night with some success but the fire broke through again early this morning. Once again the water was applied using the ladders and fire boat. The fire was extinguished and crews were returning to their stations as early as mid-day. Approximately 35 firefighters and additional support had remained on the scene which is expected to continue until late this afternoon. Approximately 100 firefighters were utilized in this effort over the 22 hour period.