3 Hurt In Colorado Oil Explosion

WELD COUNTY, Colo. --

An oil tank at the Conquest Oil plant exploded and erupted in flames Thursday afternoon, sending three people to the hospital with burns.

The three men were taken to Northern Colorado Medical Center.

Justin Raymer, 25, an employee of Leed Energy, was listed in critical condition Thursday night. Mark Speaker, 40, of North Plain Trucking was in serious condition, according to a hospital spokesperson. Omar Saenz, 22, of Conquest Oil was also injured. A condition was not available Thursday but he was reported to be the most seriously injured, with severe burns to his face, according to the Weld County Sheriff's Office.

The explosion erupted at 12:45 and was extinguished by 4 p.m., using water and foam.

Fire crews from nearby LaSalle, Platteville, Evans, Milliken and Kersey had a difficult time fighting the fire because there is not much water in the area. Firefighters have to drive several miles to nearby subdivisions, fill up with water from a fire hydrant and then drive back to the plant.

"It seems like they are having logistical issues getting water in," said Shane Scofield, with the Weld County Sheriff's Office.

Black smoke can be seen billowing from at least 15 miles away and huge flames licked the sides of about a half-dozen oil tanks as the fire burned for three hours.

No other structures were burned and not many homes were in the area.

"There was a boom," said neighbor Lisa Santagata.

"My father in-law was inside, and the house rocked," Santagata said.

The cause of the fire is not known and it's not known what workers were doing when the explosion occurred.

LaSalle Fire Chief Arlyn Litfin told 7NEWS two investigative teams, including one hired by the company, will be on site Friday.

"We also have a crew from OSHA coming in," Litfin said.

At this particular station, known as an oil transfer station, massive tanks of oil and water are stored from oil wells across Weld County.

"That water contains a mixture, part mixture of water and oil," said Scofield. "The company here further refines it and extracts the oil out then pumps the water back down in the ground."

The Conquest Oil battery transfer station is located on County Road 40 and County Road 39 in rural Weld County, about 8 miles south of Greeley.

Officials with Conquest did not return calls for comment Thursday.