West News Colo. Man Injured in Natual Gas Pumping Station Explosion
A fire and possible explosion at an EnCana natural gas pumping station injured one employee near Dacono and southwest of Fort Lupton, Colo., sheriff's officials said.
Weld County Sheriff's spokeswoman Margie Martinez said the gas line feeding the station was shut down. The employee, who works for a contractor, was airlifted to Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley with burns on his hands, face and chest, authorities said.
Martinez said the cause of the accident was unknown. It occurred as the employee was bleeding off a pipeline.
A reverse 911 went out to 90 homes alerting people to a possible explosion before authorities evacuated people and livestock within 1 mile of the pumping station, Fort Lupton Fire Chief Phil Tiffany said. People were allowed to return midafternoon, after the fire was under control, he said.
Investigators were still trying to figure out what happened. Some witnesses reported hearing an explosion while others said there was none, Tiffany said.
He did not have an estimate of damages.
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