Oil refinery, Superior, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Husky Energy, Petroleum, Refinery
Explosion rocks northern Wisconsin oil refinery; at least 11 injured.
Witness described blast as "sonic boom"
A
tank containing crude oil or asphalt exploded at a large refinery in Wisconsin
on Thursday, injuring several people and prompting fire officials to urge
people living near the still-burning plant to evacuate their homes.
No
fatalities have been reported, but at least 11 people were being treated at
hospitals in Superior, where the blast happened, and nearby Duluth, Minnesota.
The
explosion at the Husky Energy oil refinery happened at about 10 a.m., Superior
Fire Chief Steve Panger told The Associated Press.
Panger
said the fire was out by 11:20 a.m., although smoke could still be seen rising
from the plant. Superior police later tweeted that the fire had reignited and urged
residents living within a one-mile radius of the refinery to leave. Police
blocked roads around the refinery in Superior, which is home to about 27,000
people and borders Minnesota to the north and the tip of Lake Superior.
Due to heavy smoke in the area, there is a public evacuation 10 miles south of refinery, and 3 miles east and west, and 1 mile north of refinery. Those evacuating the area should go to Four Corners Elementary School at 4465 E County Road B in Superior.
Area
schools are being evacuated as well. The Superior School District said:
"All students in the City of Superior have been evacuated to Amsoil at
1101 Susquehanna Ave. Parents may come and pick them up at anytime. Students will
arrive as buses get them there."
Superior Police Department
about an hour ago
Some schools are being evacuated in an abundance of caution they will be bussed to Amsoil at 1101 susquehanna please stay tuned for further information
Essentia
Health spokeswoman Maureen Talarico said five people injured in the explosion
are being treated at St. Mary's Medical Center, a Level II trauma center in
Duluth. She said emergency room physicians described those patients as awake
and alert. Another five are being treated at St. Mary's Hospital in Superior,
Talarico said. She said the extent of injuries is unknown.
In
Duluth, St. Luke's Hospital was treating one person and did not expect to
receive any more, spokeswoman Jessica Stauber said. She did not have a
condition for that person.
Panger
said a small tank containing either crude oil or asphalt exploded in the
refinery. A contractor who was inside the building told that
the explosion sounded like "a sonic boom" and that it happened when
crews were working on shutting the plant down for repairs.
Calgary-Alberta-based
Husky Energy refinery bought the refinery from Indianapolis-based Calumet
Specialty Products Partners last year for over $490 million. It's Wisconsin's
only refinery, and it produces gasoline, asphalt and other products.
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