An investigation is underway into the Wednesday afternoon fiery explosion that injured three workers at a Devon Energy Company waste disposal well near Kingfisher.
The three were rushed to the Kingfisher Hospital and one was later flown to the Baptist Integris hospital in Oklahoma City.
The incident happened at mid-afternoon at the well located about 3 miles south of State Highway 33 and Calumet Road. Fire crews from several departments including the Kingfisher Fire Department responded.
It took firefighters an estimated 30 minutes to extinguish the fire. Lieutenant Tyler Sigel with the Kingfisher Fire department said the victims had been rushed by private vehicle to a hospital by the fire firefighters arrived. He said fire crews used nearly 270 gallons of foam on the fires.
Sigel said the blaze was so intense that it melted at least one truck trailer. Kingfisher County Sheriff Dennis Banther said one of his deputies arrived on the scene and heard secondary explosions. At least two tractor-trailer rigs and a pickup truck appeared to be badly damaged at the site where saltwater is unloaded.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) arrived on scene to mitigate any pollution.
Later, Devon Energy issued a statement:
“At about 3 p.m. Wednesday, there was ignition and a fire at a Devon saltwater disposal well facility in Kingfisher County, Okla. Three workers employed by contract firms were taken to local hospitals.
The fire was quickly contained and the site is secure. All other employees have been accounted for and are safe. The cause of the fire is under investigation; Devon is coordinating with its contractors, local authorities and government agencies.”