A large fire raged at the BP Husky Toledo Refinery in Oregon, Ohio on the night of Tuesday, September 20. Though the specific cause has not yet been identified, it’s possible that leaking fumes from a crude unit may have ignited and spread.
Two refinery workers suffered severe injuries in the fire and succumbed to them Wednesday morning. “All other staff are accounted for,” a BP spokesperson said.
Authorities got their first 911 call about the blaze at approximately 6:50 pm local time. After an hours-long effort, the fire was finally extinguished at 10:15 pm by local municipal fire crews, according to CBS News. The plant was officially shut down on Wednesday after reports of the deaths, and BP is reportedly coordinating with “local, state, and federal officials” in the aftermath.
The refinery is situated in a small town just outside Toledo and has a daily output of approximately 160,000 barrels of crude oil, which amounts to about 3.8 million gallons of gas. While an extended closure of the facility can affect gas prices even more than it already has, safety must be a priority in the investigation and reopening procedures.
The fire ignited mere weeks after a maintenance turnaround was completed.
This isn’t the first time the BP Husky Toledo Refinery has had a brush with fire. Less than a year ago, in November 2021, a blaze broke out at the refinery. Fortunately, no injuries were reported at that time, according to WWNO.
As more details arise about this horrific incident, our refinery accident lawyers at Arnold & Itkin will be following closely. Our hearts go out to the families whose lives have been forever changed because of this preventable tragedy.