Two workers were hospitalized following a gas well explosion late Sunday on Cherry Hill Road outside Wheeling, said Ohio County Emergency Management Director Lou Vargo.

The explosion happened at a tank on the Franz Thoman well pad around 11 p.m., Vargo said. Though a drilling rig was at the pad, the fire was contained at the tank. One worker was immediately life-flighted to a Pittsburgh-area burn center, Vargo said. Another was taken to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, and Vargo believed he ultimately was transported to Pittsburgh as well.

Clearview and West Liberty fire departments initially responded, Vargo said. With well pads, water sources aren’t readily available, Vargo added, so the tanker task force was called in to assist. The Wheeling Fire Department responded and supplied foam to fight the fire and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office helped with traffic control.

The fire was put out quickly, Vargo said, but responders stayed until around 2:30 a.m. Monday to make sure the fire didn’t restart.

No homes in the surrounding area were damaged in the explosion, Vargo said.

Original story

WHEELING — Emergency crews transported two people to area hospitals following a late Sunday explosion at a gas well on Cherry Hill Road outside Wheeling.

The explosion reportedly happened around 11 p.m., according to Clearview Volunteer Fire Department officials.

The explosion remains under investigation.