Three Hurt In Fire at Wetzel County Well Pad
Trending
NEW MARTINSVILLE -- Two natural gas well operators and a mechanic suffered burn injuries at Stone Energy Corp.'s Howell pad in Wetzel County after a "flash fire" Friday afternoon, according to West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Kelley Gillenwater.
The pad is located along Turkey Run Road off W.Va. 20 between New Martinsville and Reader. The cause of the fire was not known late Friday.
Gillenwater said the workers were performing maintenance on the well when the flash fire took place at approximately 4:49 p.m.
All three workers were transported to hospitals via medical helicopter for injuries of uncertain severity, she said.
The fire was contained by about 6 p.m., according to Gillenwater.
"All the wells on the pad are shut in," Gillenwater said. "We believe the situation is under control."
She said only the three burned workers were injured, adding the fire did not spread throughout the pad.
The DEP will monitor the situation through the evening and weekend, she said.
Officials with Stone Energy could not be reached for comment.
The Lafayette, La.-based company recently filed for bankruptcy.
Edgar Sapp, Wetzel County Emergency Management Agency director, also could not be reached for comment.