UPDATE: VAN ZANDT (KYTX) - The names of two people injured when an oil storage facility exploded early Tuesday have been released.
Brandy Wolfe, 24, was listed in good condition at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas and H.R. Price, 24, is no longer being treated at the hospital, officials said Tuesday evening.
The Van Zandt County Fire Marshal along with multiple fire departments responded to a explosion and fire at a oil storage facility on State Highway 110 North of Van, according to Fire Marshal Chuck Allen.
Allen said the call came in just before 3 a.m., reporting a fire at an oil well.
"It was reported that two burn victims were at the Van Fire Department and were requesting EMS. Both burn victims were transported to East Texas Medical Center Hospital in Tyler by EMS. Subsequently, both subjects have been transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas by East Texas Medical Center EMS," he said.
Allen said the victims are both 24.
"It is reported that both individuals were smoking on top of the storage tanks, when one of the tanks exploded," he said.
One of the victims, a 24-year-old female is on life supports and the other a 24 year old male has burns to face, chest and arms. Van Fire Department along with Grand Saline, Tyler Fire Department Haz Mat and Lindale Fire Department are either on scene or responding to the incident.
The incident is still an active scene. There are five large storage tanks, in which two had already exploded and was on fire. Fire was impending on the other tanks and firefighters were using a foam blanket to attempt to prevent the other storage tanks from exploding and catching fire. The names of the victims are being with held at this time due to notification of next of kin.
Allen is working to identify which company owns the storage facility. The victims are reported at this time not to be employees of the oil company responsible for the storage facility.
Allen is being assisted by Van Police Department and the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office.
The victims could be facing multiple charges.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY (KYTX) - At least two people have been hospitalized after an explosion at an oil storage tank facility in Van Zandt County.
It happened around 3 AM on Highway 110 and County Road 1507. The Van Zandt County Fire Marshal tells us it all started when two people trespassed onto the property, then they sat on top of a tank while smoking a cigarette, and that's when the fire started.
The Fire Marshal tells us the victims were taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas with second degree burns to the face, arms and chest. Several fire departments responded to the scene including Van Zandt County, Tyler and Lindale.
We have a crew on the scene and we'll continue to keep you updated with any additional information.
(credit: KTVT/KTXA)
