Above Ground Fuel Tanks

As a matter of public policy based on considerations of public safety, stationary aboveground storage tanks for Class I, Class II, or Class III-A liquids located outside of buildings within the Fire District’s boundaries and service areas are generally prohibited. Historically, fires involving stationary aboveground storage tanks during tank loading/unloading and result in flammable or combustible liquid pool fires. Such pool fires typically spread to involve the area surrounding the tank and cause the tank supports to fail. Consequently, failure of the tank supports causes the tank to drop to the ground and rupture, releasing the entire contents of the tank into the fire and thus exacerbating the fire and magnifying the threat of exposure fires. Other factors in tank failures during exposure to fires are improper or inadequate emergency venting and failure of piping and valves. Storage tank fires have also been known to originate with an internal explosion.

There are some instances when aboveground storage tanks can be approved by the Fire District. Individuals wishing to install stationary aboveground storage tanks for Class I, Class II, or Class III-A liquids located outside of buildings within the Fire District’s boundaries and service areas should contact the Fire District to discuss the specific of their situation.