Fire threatens, doesn't reach, oil complex

Firefighters fought Monday afternoon to keep a raging house fire on East Ardoin from jumping next door to the Guillory Oil complex and its battery of gasoline storage tanks.
The fire broke out about 2 p.m. at 163 East Ardoin.
Keeping it under control was a double-tough assignment --it quickly was free burning, and a southerly wind was feeding it air and pushing the fingers of flame toward the downwind Guillory property.
Residents of a mobile home park on the opposite side of the fire-ravaged building were out of their homes, waiting for the coast to be called clear.
Within 15 minutes fire fighters had water saturating the fire sight and buildings on both sides of it. Smoke was billowing and steam was hissing, but the flames appeared under control.