Three Hurt in Wetzel County Well Pad Fire
NEW MARTINSVILLE – Two natural gas well operators and a mechanic suffered burn injuries at the Stone Energy Corp. Howell pad in Wetzel County after a “flash fire” this afternoon, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Kelley Gillenwater said.
Gillenwater said the workers were performing maintenance on the well when the flash fire took place at approximately 4:49 p.m. today. All three workers have been transported to hospitals via medical helicopter for injuries of uncertain severity, she said.
“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.
Officials with Stone could not be reached for comment. The Lafayette, La.-based company recently filed for bankruptcy.
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