Fire leaves two injured at Wynnewood refinery

WYNNEWOOD, Okla. (KXII) - Two people were injured after a fire at an oil refinery in Wynnewood Tuesday morning.

According to a press release from CVR Energy, the fire started around 8:20 in the gasoline hydrotreater.

A neighbor told News 12 he heard and felt the moment it happened.

“It shook my house.,” Ron Womack said. “Just a big boom, me and my dog both heard it and he jumped. So I walked outside and didn’t see anything, so I come back in the house.”

Womack said he was home when it happened, and when he walked back outside he saw smoke traveling to the other end of town.

“Next thing I know there was a fire truck, ambulance, all kinds of stuff over there,” Womack said. “So I didn’t know it was such a big fire until I saw it on tv, but I saw the black smoke.”

Garvin County Emergency Management Director Dave Johnson said all workers were accounted for soon after the blast.

“They had two people injured and they were transported for treatment,” Johnson said. “The in-plant response team immediately called for EMS support so Mercy from Pauls Valley and Wadley’s from Wynnewood responded to transport. The Wynnewood Fire Department set up a landing zone at the football field.”

As of 12:26 p.m. the source of the fire was isolated and emergency crews were working on extinguishing the fire, according to the sheriff’s department.

Womack said he’s seen multiple explosions since he moved to the house 7 years ago.

In 2012, an explosion killed two workers at the refinery, which employs around 185 people.

Wynnewood Refinery was fined nearly 300 thousand dollars for that explosion.

CVR Energy said company officials will be doing a full investigation.

News 12 reached out to OSHA to see if they’ll be investigating too, but haven’t heard back.

GoFundMe accounts have been set up for Wes Foster and Eli Warren, the two people injured in the explosion.

According to the fundraiser, both men were near the explosion and were engulfed in flames.

The money will go towards medical bills, hotel and transportation for their families while they recover.

To donate to Eli Warren’s GoFundMe click here.

To donate to Wes Foster’s GoFundMe click here.

**Original story below**

At least one person was injured in a fire at an oil refinery in Wynnewood Tuesday morning.

KWTV News 9 reports it happened at Wynnewood Refining near Highway 77 and Powell Avenue.

The Garvin County Sheriff’s Office said at least one person was transferred to the hospital.

This is a developing story. News 12 has a reporter headed to the scene and will have more information as we get it.

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