The Region - News from Aug. 31, 1986

More than 240,000 gallons of mineral oil erupted in flames at the $62-million Solar One power plant near Daggett, 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, heavily damaging a huge storage tank, authorities said. The mineral oil, used to drive turbines, was bubbling at 600 degrees Fahrenheit when firefighters began to smother the flames with foam solution, a California Department of Forestry spokeswoman said. An accumulation of heptane gas apparently ignited and blasted a 20-foot hole near the top of the tank, the spokeswoman said. There were no injuries. Damage was estimated at $150,000. The fire was confined to the 45-foot-high tank and some of the exterior plumbing. The tank, which measures 65 feet across, has a capacity of 1.5 million gallons. Chuck Lopez, site manager for Southern California Edison, said the plant will remain in operation.