A worker sustained severe burns just days before Christmas in an explosion at a portable oil and gas drilling facility near Windsor, Colorado.
The December 22nd incident was reported around 8:47 p.m. at an active oil and gas site operated by Extraction Oil & Gas. The facility is located on the south side of Colo. 392, on the northern edge of the Great Western Industrial Park.
Explosion Heard, Felt at Nearby Residential Subdivision
According to CBS Denver, the site is not far from a newer residential subdivision that houses hundreds of people.
“I was actually putting my daughter down to bed,” one nearby resident said.
“We just felt, heard this really loud boom, and then felt the house shake,” another reported.
Contractor Transported to Medical Center with Severe Burns
Responders with Windsor Severance Fire Rescue were confronted with an active fire when they arrived on scene.
An unidentified contractor was taken to North Colorado Medical Center with severe burns.
“He is recovering in stable condition and our thoughts are with him for a speedy recovery,” said Extraction spokesperson said in a statement. “We will provide further updates as they become available.”
Officials were forced to close Colo. 392 from Weld 23 to Colo. 257 to keep traffic to a minimum.
Preliminary Information Suggests Explosion Resulted from Industrial Accident
Fire crews were on scene for an hour before they determined that the unstable nature of the fire made it necessary to retreat. They began dousing the blaze with a water-based foam shortly after 10:00 p.m.
The fire was brought under control by 11:30 p.m. Crews remained on the scene until Saturday morning to ensure that the blaze was completely extinguished.
It’s not clear what set off the explosion. However, preliminary information suggests it was the result of an industrial accident.
Once the site is deemed safe to enter, the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission will conduct an investigation in conjunction with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
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