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Philadelphia energy solution refinery August 8, 2019. (Bastian plates for WHY)

The site of the refinery explosion and fire that rocked South Philadelphia in June and brought the refinery to a standstill is now under control. That means Philadelphia fire Department personnel will no longer stay at the facility around the clock.

Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said Tuesday that only traces of a quantity of the dangerous chemical hydrofluoric acid remain at the damaged Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery.

“It was a very new event, so we were dealing with a lot of unknowns, and I’m glad we can put that under control,” Thiel said. “Although it remains a dynamic and volatile situation.”

The device that exploded three months ago used a large amount of the toxic chemical hydrofluoric acid. The chemical posed a danger to workers and surrounding residents after the June 21 explosion and fire at the refinery.

Hydrofluoric acid is one of the most poisonous industrial chemicals in use, and exposure can result in serious injury or death.

Neutralizing most of the chemical – about 34,000 pounds, or about 45,000 gallons – was a dangerous task that was completed in late August.

The remaining hydrofluoric acid, commonly known as HF, was inside the exploded device. The fire Commissioner said his announcement that the site is now under control marks a milestone.

“HF still in the damaged unit was a little more difficult,” Thiel said.

After the explosion, city air monitors never detected HF or other hazardous emissions, he said.

Thiel says the risk of a small hydrocarbon leak from the damaged unit remains, although the incident is currently “under control.”

“This does not mean that the incident is over, it means that we feel like we know enough about what is happening on the ground and we have limited all the dangers of the immediate scene of the incident,” he said.

Philadelphia Energy solutions has since filed for bankruptcy and laid off most workers. A small team remains and works with contractors to repair the damaged unit. Thiel said it would be about a month before all remaining dangers were eliminated.

A number of Federal agencies are investigating the explosions and fires in June, including the environmental protection Agency, the chemical safety Board, the Bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives, and the occupational safety and health Administration. The Pennsylvania Department of environmental protection is also investigating.

A public meeting on the refinery’s future is scheduled for 5: 30 to 7: 30 p.m. Wednesday at Charter preparatory school, 1928 Point Breeze Ave.

Philadelphia Energy Solutions, the largest and oldest refinery on the East coast, announced the closure after a fire in June 2019.

After learning of the results of an investigation launched by the chemical safety Board into the June 21 fire, many accuse the refinery of putting its life at risk.

A Federal investigation blames faulty, old pipe for the explosion and fire at the South Philly refinery. The explosion released hydrofluoric acid.

Nearly four months after an oil refinery complex in South Philadelphia closed after a massive explosion, rail cars used to transport oil are on the road.

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