Refinery explosion near Gallup, N.M. hospitalizes four with serious injuries
(2004-04-09)

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico -- Two explosions followed by fire rocked a gasoline refinery Thursday, seriously injuring four people, officials said.

Smoke billowed from one side of the Giant Industries refinery about 15 miles east of Gallup in western New Mexico as rescue crews converged on the scene.

State police Lt. Jimmy Glascock said the explosion occurred in a part of the refinery that produces high-octane fuel and that the blast caused a second one inside the same area.

The fire was quickly contained, but white smoke continued to escape the refinery's lattice of pipes and equipment, now blackened from the heat. Firefighters sprayed water to cool it down as small flames flickered amid the wreckage.

Trucker Michael Metcalf was driving nearby when the blasts occurred.

"All of a sudden, I heard a loud sound, which rocked the truck," he said. "I saw flames and black smoke coming out of the refinery, and the flames were shooting out as high as one of the towers."

Gallup Fire Chief Louie Chavez said the fire triggered the refinery's massive water guns, which helped quell the flames.

The injured were taken to hospitals in Gallup and Albuquerque, about 140 miles to the east. Two were listed in critical condition, a third in serious, and the fourth was in satisfactory condition.

About 50 employees who at the refinery when the explosions occurred were evacuated. A travel center about a quarter mile south of the refinery was also evacuated, police said.

Nearby Interstate 40 remained open, but authorities were discouraging travel in the area.

In a release from the Scottsdale, Arizona?Cbased company, Giant officials acknowledged that a fire occurred but made no mention of explosions.

"Our understanding is that there was a fire. There may have been an explosion before the fire," company spokesman Mark Cox said.

Cox said the company did not know the extent of the damage. It was sending officials to the scene.

Federal regulators and the FBI began routine investigations.
(ENN 2004-04-09)