Several employees of the Oil and Gas Exploration Company in Piła got burns as a result of the blast. Trucks of the fire department, communist Citizens’ Militia and the military soon arrived on scene. Moments later, the drilling rig, mobile barracks and cars of the oil workers caught ablaze as well.
The dream of black gold
In December 1980, near the town of Karlino, there was a discovery of small amounts of oil and gas. Dreams of deposits like in the oil-rich Kuwait quickly spread in the area. A geological survey was ordered near Daszew to have a better understanding of the situation.
As one journalist from The People’s Tribune [Trybuna Ludu] wrote, the drilling took place in accordance with all standards and an approved project of a geological survey.
During the works, there was a sudden burst of oil and natural gas and the area was lit by an enormous flame. The drilling rig fell, and the fire spread throughout the facility, along with the back buildings.
Steaming asphalt
The drilling rig burned for several days after the blast. The asphalt near the rig softened and began to steam, while people felt tremors under their feet. Nearby residents were evacuated along with the remaining machinery and equipment.
The uniformed services built a fire line embankment around the eruption site. Engineers set up a pontoon bridge on the nearby river and a pump station for two reservoirs. Soon, they began pumping water from the Radwia river.
Apart from communist officials, the site soon saw the arrival of various gas emergency specialists. On the third day since the blast, a team from Hungary arrived to Karlino as one of the first international crews. After consultations with a team of Soviet experts, it was decided that the fire was impossible to put out in the short term, that it could take a month or two. They discussed various scenarios for quenching the fire.
They used cannons, howitzers and water cannons, and attempted to create a water umbrella as well. In the end, the Karlino fire was put out on January 10, 1981.
Extinguishing a gas and oil eruption in Krzywopłoty near Karlino in the Koszalin province (December 9, 1980 - January 10, 1981). Jan Hausbrandt's photo collection (from the archives of the Institute of National Remembrance)
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The “Polish Kuwait” turned out to be a false dream. The deposit was small, and the oil itself was poor quality. Currently, the old deposits near Karlino are used as an underground gas storage.
