4 hurt in explosion and fire at energy facility in Pennsylvania
Chartiers Township, Pa. — There was an explosion and fire with injuries Thursday evening at an energy facility, CBS Pittsburgh reports. At least four people were hurt at MarkWest on Western Avenue in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Dispatchers were alerted at 6:03 p.m. Four burn victims were airlifted with to Pittsburgh hospitals. All four were employees of MarkWest. Their conditions weren't immediately released.
The fire started in a tank, which holds 200 barrels of liquid ethylene glycol plus hydrocarbons.
A statement from MarkWest said there was "an incident near two temporary tanks that were on-site for routine maintenance, resulting in a fire."
The fire is now out and a hazardous material crew is on the scene with eight additional fire departments and four medical agencies — two STAT Medvac helicopters and two lifeflight helicopters.
The processing plant has been shut down as a precaution.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
"Our prayers are with our injured colleagues and their families," MarkWest said in a company statement.
