3 Workers with Greeley, CO-based Mundt Energy Services Are In Critical Condition Following Welding-Caused Explosion at a Site owned by Kaiser Francis oil By Leigh Paterson
August 11, 2015
Three workers are in critical condition after an explosion and fire at an oil facility Monday outside of Cheyenne, WY.
According to Lori Hogan, the public information officer for the Laramie County Fire District No. 2, the workers have burns on their faces, arms, and torsos, covering between 20 and 30 percent of their bodies. Their names have not been released.
One was airlifted to the Western States Burn Center in Greeley Colorado. The other two were first taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and then were airlifted to Greeley as well. All three are employees of Greeley-based Mundt Energy Services, but they were working at a site owned by Kaiser Francis oil.
Two were pressure-washing an oil tank, and the third was welding when the explosion occurred. It was extinguished by the time rescue workers arrived. Inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the incident.
Hogan said the blaze happened at a facility owned by the Tulsa, Okla.-based Kaiser-Francis Oil Company. The site is about 15 miles northeast of Cheyenne, about one mile south on U.S. 85 on Laramie County Road 135.
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AUGUST 11, 2015
CHEYENNE, Wyo. —
The three welders who suffered severe burns in a flash fire that erupted at an oil and gas facility northeast of Cheyenne were in Greeley on Tuesday receiving treatment at North Colorado Medical Center.
The unidentified men were working on Kaiser-Francis Oil Co. equipment when natural gas left in the system exploded and started the blaze Monday morning.
Laramie County Fire District 2 operations chief Manny Muzquiz said burns covered up to 30 percent of the victims’ bodies.
One man was transported immediately by helicopter to the Western States Burn Center at NCMC. The other two were initially taken by ambulance to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, before being flown to NCMC, according to the Wyoming Business Report.
Officials form the Laramie County Fire Department, along with inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, spokeswoman Hayley McKee told the Business Report.
“The OSHA inspectors are also gathering their own evidence and will interview any available witnesses,” McKee said. “Any evidence that has been gathered will be considered. The inspectors will then sort through all of the evidence and interviews and reconstruct the accident.”
The facility where the incident occurred is about a mile south of U.S. 85 on Laramie County Road 135, northeast of Cheyenne.
Attempts to reach officials at the company headquarters in Tulsa, Okla., for an update on the condition of the men were unsuccessful on Tuesday. Local fire officials also said they had no information.