Fire at offshore gas platform prompts evacuation

A plume of smoke rises from Hilcorp's Baker platform on Thursday near Nikiski, Alaska. The fire appeared to be out later in the morning,  but vessels at the scene were still battling smoke, the Coast Guard said.
A plume of smoke rises from Hilcorp's Baker platform on Thursday near Nikiski, Alaska. The fire appeared to be out later in the morning, but vessels at the scene were still battling smoke, the Coast Guard said.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The Coast Guard in Alaska says a fire Thursday at an offshore natural gas platform in Alaska's Cook Inlet forced four people to evacuate, but the environmental risk is considered minimal.

The fire appeared to be out by 11 a.m., but vessels at the scene were still battling smoke, according to the Coast Guard, which was responding to the blaze. The platform is 8 miles offshore.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, and Petty Officer Joshua Yates said no fuel spilled into the inlet's waters.

Hilcorp spokeswoman Lori Nelson says the fire broke out at about 7:30 a.m. and was limited to the crew living quarters, which appear to be a total loss. The fire is not believed to be production-related.

Nelson says the crew was safely evacuated by a Hilcorp helicopter crew.

Yates said 11,000 gallons of diesel fuel were on board, along with 8,000 gallons of drill mud and 1,000 gallons of hydraulic oil.

Mike McNeil, civilian command duty officer in Anchorage, said the Coast Guard overheard radio communications by vessels reporting smoke in an area at 8:30 a.m.

He said it was unknown what caused the fire at the Baker platform operated by Hilcorp Alaska LLC, which reported the fire.

The Coast Guard said four vessels were fighting the fire and the agency was dispatching a cutter, helicopter and another aircraft.