Taitung Air Force Base fuel tank cleaning fire injures worker, investigation ongoing

An oil tank fire broke out at the Air Force Chihhang Base in Taitung this afternoon. According to a report from the Army Logistics Command, the Taitung Petroleum Depot under the jurisdiction of the Second Support Command was performing cleaning operations on a land-based fuel reservoir at approximately 3:00 p.m. when a fire broke out for unknown reasons. The blaze was extinguished at around 3:30 p.m., resulting in one injured worker. The Taitung County Fire Bureau will assist in investigating and clarifying the cause of the incident.

The Chihhang Base is located in Taitung County's Donggang Township and is one of the Republic of China Air Force's weaponry bases, primarily responsible for aircraft maintenance, servicing, and logistical support. The base houses multiple fuel warehouses and oil tanks to supply various types of Air Force aircraft. Due to the large volume and flammable nature of aviation fuel, the safety management of the base's fuel facilities has consistently been a key focus for the military. The occurrence of this fire serves as a reminder to all parties that safety regulations must still be strictly enforced in fuel warehouse working environments.

Reservoir cleaning is conducted to remove residual fuel and impurities within the tanks to ensure that the storage environment meets safety standards. Such operations typically require the use of high-pressure water guns and cleaning agents, along with fire prevention measures such as deploying fire extinguishers and ensuring the work area is free of flammable materials. Although the operational procedures are standardized, fires can still be triggered by improper operation, equipment failure, or environmental factors such as electrostatic discharge or electrical sparks. In the past, the Ministry of National Defense also experienced minor fires due to carelessness during fuel warehouse operations; through enhanced training and equipment upgrades, the frequency of such incidents has dropped significantly.

In this fire incident, the Army Logistics Command immediately initiated emergency response procedures and cooperated with the Taitung County Fire Bureau in firefighting and rescue efforts. The injured worker has been sent to the hospital for treatment and is in stable medical condition. The accident investigation will focus on the cleaning operation procedures, equipment conditions, and safety protection measures, and the results will be reported to military leadership to prevent similar events from recurring.

This fire not only caused a brief impact on the base's daily logistics operations but also potentially posed risks to the surrounding environment. If fuel leaks or combustion produces harmful gases, it could affect air quality and the ecological environment. The military has promised to review the fire prevention facilities of the fuel warehouses, consider adding more efficient fire extinguishing systems and monitoring equipment, and strengthen employee safety education to ensure operators are familiar with hazard identification and emergency response procedures.

Overall, the oil tank fire at the Chihhang Base highlights the importance of safety management in military logistics facilities and serves as a reminder for local governments and the public to pay attention to the environment and public safety surrounding military installations. As the investigation proceeds further, relevant units will continue to update the handling progress and implement necessary safety improvement measures.