Arlington firefighters train to deal with fires at gas wells

Arlington firefighters train to deal with fires at gas wells by Susan Schrock, August 21, 2012, Star Telegram
The industry also calls the additional inspections unnecessary given well operators’ safety record within the Barnett Shale. In May, the Texas Oil & Gas Association and the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association sued Arlington, saying the city is trying to unfairly “expand its revenues by taxing a single industry.” That suit was filed in a Tarrant County civil court. … Davis applauded Arlington for proactively wanting to learn how to keep themselves and the public safe and damage to a minimum during such industrial disasters. He said he expects other cities to follow suit and recently met with another urban Texas fire department about similar training. “Our greatest challenge is to get the first responders in the community to understand what we are fixing to do is fairly complex,” Davis said. “With the support of first responders like Arlington, our job is much safer.”