MEC&F Expert Engineers : 2 WORKERS CRITICALLY BURNED AT A COMPRESSOR STATION IN GUYMON OKLAHOMA GAS PLANT EXPLOSION

Friday, November 21, 2014

2 WORKERS CRITICALLY BURNED AT A COMPRESSOR STATION IN GUYMON OKLAHOMA GAS PLANT EXPLOSION

2 WORKERS critically burned at a compressor station in Guymon Oklahoma gas plant explosion

GUYMON, Oklahoma - Two men were critically injured in an explosion at the DCP Straight Compressor station near Guymon, Oklahoma.

According to the Guymon Fire Department, at about 3:20 p.m. Thursday, crews responded to the report of an explosion at the DCP Straight Compressor station, located at mile 32N and County Rd. 7. The station is located about 13 miles northeast of Guymon.

Crews quickly located a worker on site who could give firefighters account of the incident. According to that worker, four DCP workers were at the site when the building that housed drying operations suddenly exploded. Two of the workers were in the building at the time of the explosion and escaped out an exit.

Another worker outside the building extinguished both men, who were still on fire as they got out of the building, according to fire officials. Both burn victims were placed in a company vehicle and transported to Memorial Hospital of Texas County before Fire and EMS arrived on scene.

Both victims were later transferred in critical condition to the Burn Unit in Lubbock, Texas.

“Cause of the explosion and fire is unknown at the time and being investigated by DCP Officials”, said Assistant Chief Wadley.

Firefighters allowed the fire to burn itself out. DCP officials were able to isolate the building and its contents from the rest of the plant site.

The Straight Elementary School was quickly evacuated for precautionary measures at the time of the explosion. No children or school officials were injured.

Emergency Services Departments that responded included the Guymon Fire Department with EMS, Hooker Fire Department, Hooker EMS, Texas County Sheriff Office, OHP, Texas County District #1 and #2, and Texas County Emergency Management. Units remained on scene for over an hour as DCP continued to isolate and investigate this incident.

Authorities have not identified the two burn victims at this time.

Posted: Nov 21, 2014 12:00 PM EST Updated: Nov 21, 2014 1:55 PM EST

By: Austin Prickett, Assignment Editor

Two workers were critically burned following an explosion at a Guymon gas plant Thursday.

According to Guymon Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Grant Wadley, around 3:30 p.m. Thursday Guymon Fire responded to an explosion call at the DCP Gas Plant at Straight.

"Upon emergency services arrival, found an isolated building on site with fire and smoke coming from inside," Wadley said.

Emergency responders found a DCP worker on site who said four DCP employees were on site when the building that housed drying operations suddenly exploded. Two workers were inside the building when it exploded and were able to escape out an exit.

Wadley says the two workers escaped the plant but were on fire. The employees were quickly extinguished by another employee. The two burned men were placed inside a company vehicle and transported to Memorial Hospital of Texas County before emergency crews arrived on scene.

The men were later transferred in critical condition to the burn unit in Lubbock.

Wadley says the cause of the explosion and fire is currently being investigated by DCP officials. Crews allowed the fire to burn itself out. Wadley says Straight elementary School was quickly evacuated following the explosion as a precautionary measure.

The plant is located approximately 13 miles northeast of Guymon.