Thursday, January 14, 2016

A fire at a Continental Resources oil well east of Chickasha, Oklahoma Wednesday afternoon damaged at least 17 vehicles

 





Large fire erupts at Continental Resources well site




well fire

A fire at a Continental Resources oil well east of Chickasha Wednesday afternoon damaged at least 17 vehicles. (Adam Troxtell / CNHI News Service)







Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 8:08 pm

By Adam Troxtell CNHI News Service

CHICKASHA, Okla. — A large fire broke out just after 4 p.m. Wednesday at a Continental Resources well site just east of Chickasha.

Grady County Fire Department spokesman Buddy Meyers said the fire was contained by 6 p.m., but crews would remain onsite until later in the night to fully douse the flames.

Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson said it was not the well that caught fire.

"There were 17 trucks on fire, but we are unsure where the fire started," Thompson said.

Several witnesses reported hearing explosions, which Thompson said were tires blowing up due to the flames.

Meyers said rig employees were fracking when the fire started, and although the flames did not start near the well it was shut down for safety reasons.

No injuries were reported.

"Continental Resources received a report of a fire on a Continental location approximately three miles east of Chickasha. All crew have been accounted for and are safe. The well is shut in. The cause of fire is unknown at this time," Continental spokeswoman Kristin Thomas in a release.

The fire shut down Oklahoma 39 due to smoke crossing the road.