1975 Philadelphia Gulf refinery fire
Fire at refinery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
About
A refinery owned by Gulf Oil Corporation in Philadelphia, located at Girard Point on the Schuylkill River in South Philadelphia, caught fire on Sunday, August 17, 1975. This incident grew into an 11-alarm fire, not brought under control until 24 hours later, and resulted in the death of eight firefighters of the Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD), injuries to 14 other firefighters, and the loss of four PFD vehicles.
At the height of this fire, the loss of the huge, sprawling refinery complex was regarded as a real possibility as a tremendous firestorm enveloped two storage tanks, travelled through portions of the on-site piping, and destroyed the refinery's administration building.
Nearby
More to see within walking distance
Schuylkill River
River in eastern Pennsylvania, United States
1.4 mi awayFranklin Delano Roosevelt Park
Public park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1.2 mi awayHanwha Philly Shipyard
Commercial shipyard in Philadelphia
1.4 mi awayAmerican Swedish Historical Museum
Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1.4 mi awayGeorge C. Platt Bridge
Bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
0.3 mi awayUSS Forrest Sherman (DD-931)
US Navy destroyer
1.2 mi awayPlaces to eat nearby
Finding places to eat…
Traveler reviews
Tickets & tours
Tickets and tours for 1975 Philadelphia Gulf refinery fire
We may earn a commission from some of these links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Photos from Unsplash, Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA); facts from Wikipedia; maps © OpenStreetMap contributors, weather from Open-Meteo. Huginn’s tips are AI-written — check prices, hours and entry rules before you go.
