McKee refinery fire on Sunday , 29 July 1956 was a severe fire-related mass casualty event , killing 19 firefighters . The fire is considered to have the fourth ( the September 11 attacks being first ) most casualties of fire fighters in the United States for a single fire event . Their names are engraved at the firefighters ' memorial on the grounds of the Texas state capitol . Another memorial is on the grounds of the Moore County courthouse . The refinery , located south of the Texas/Oklahoma border and seven miles north of Sunray , Texas , included a spherical tank containing half a million gallons of pentane and hexane . Vapors escaped from the tank and migrated downhill toward other installations . The vapors ignited , probably near an asphalt plant and travelled back toward the tank . There the flames consumed the escaping vapors , forcing firefighters to use water to cool nearby tanks to prevent further spread
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
McKee refinery fire