Worker killed himself at an oil and gas site run by Great Western Oil and Gas in Weld County, Colorado

Person found dead in oil site fire died of self-inflicted gunshot wound
Posted 3:54 pm, August 2, 2019, by Web Staff


WELD COUNTY, Colo. — 

One person was killed in a fire at an oil site in Weld County Wednesday evening; however, the cause of death as determined by the Coroner’s Office Friday was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The person, who has not yet been identified, suffered “thermal injuries” after his death. A gun was found at the scene.

According to Windsor Severance Fire Rescue, the incident occurred at an oil storage tank about 6:30 p.m.

The fire was reported near County Road 66 and Hillcrest. The area is approximately 3 miles east of Windsor.

The site belongs to Great Western Oil and Gas.

The person killed was either employed by Great Western or was a contractor for the company, according to Windsor Severance Fire Rescue.

It is currently unknown how the fire started.


===============================================




WELD COUNTY, Colo. — 

A worker died in a fire at and oil and gas site east of Windsor Wednesday evening.

The site, which is near County Road 66 and County Road 23, is operated by Great Western Petroleum.

Firefighters were called to the site around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Fire Chief Kris Kazian with Windsor-Severance Fire rescue said they saw an active fire when they arrived and took immediate action to stabilize the incident.

Firefighters found a worker's truck on scene and began looking for the man. He was found on top of one of the burning fuel cells and crews retrieved him. However, he died afterward.

"We have turned the scene over to the coroner as it relates to that matter," Kazian said.

The Weld County Coroner on Friday said the man's cause of death was from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He also said a firearm was recovered at the scene.

Kazian said the investigation into the fire has since been completed, which found "the origin of the fire was at the top of the oil tanks." The fire, "cannot be determined as intentional or accidental at this time," the Chief said.

More than 40 firefighters from Windsor-Severance, Greeley, Eaton and Front Range Fire rescue worked to put out the blaze.

"Crews worked on scene for the last three hours to control the temperatures in the tank and eventually take care of the foam in the tank to put the fire out," Kazian said.

No firefighters or other workers were injured in the fire. 

================================

WELD COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)– Federal investigators are on the scene of an oil and gas site east of Windsor where a man was killed in a fire. The man was killed on Wednesday evening.

(credit: CBS)

A total of 40 firefighters responded to the fire at a Great Western tank battery at County Road 66 and Hillcrest Drive at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Two of the 10 tanks in the battery had caught fire.

(credit: CBS)

“We found a worker on top of one of the tanks,” said Windsor/Severance Fire Chief Chris Kazian.

(credit: CBS)

On Thursday, the investigation ramped up. Teams from the numerous agencies gathered at the scene, trying to determine what touched off the blaze. The Colorado Oil and Gas Commission joined OSHA, the Weld County Sherriff’s Department and Windsor/Severance Fire and Rescue looking into the cause.

(credit: CBS)

Susan Fakharzadeh, a spokeswoman for Great Western Operating, told CBS4’s Rick Sallinger, “The well has been shut from a production standpoint since yesterday evening and what we want to do is maintain a safe environment so we can get in and see what occurred.”

(credit: CBS)

What’s believed to be the victim’s truck was towed from the scene. The name has of the man who died has not yet been released by the Weld County Coroner’s office. While the oil facility is self-operating, workers come by for inspection, cleaning and maintenance.

(credit: CBS)

“This is a really tough situation for the family it’s a tough situation for the 150 employees at Great Western which are feeling this loss,” said Fakharzadeh.

(credit: CBS)

She said this is the Denver-based company’s first fatality.