Search our News List
Kirwin blasts leave two firefighters seriously hurt

7/15/2010 Human Interest

from Hays, KS Daily News, 7/15/10

KIRWIN — Six Kirwin firefighters were injured — two of them seriously — just after 7 p.m. Tuesday when acetylene gas cylinders for welding exploded inside a burning truck about a half-mile west of Kirwin.

Rose Rozmiarek, chief investigator for the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office said the truck belonged to a crew making repairs on the Kirwin water tower. The crew members had left for the evening, leaving the truck behind. About 7:10 p.m., firefighters from the Kirwin City-Rural Fire Department and neighboring rural firefighters were called to a report of the truck on fire, near the water tower about a half mile west of Kirwin.

Workers with the repair crew were in the process of replacing the roof of the tank dome, Rozmiarek said. She said  for now, the water tower isn’t operational.

While the firefighters attempted to extinguish the flames, at least two explosions ripped through the scene.

Two firefighters were airlifted from the scene to a Nebraska hospital, while several others were taken to  Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg for treatment for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, Rozmiarek said. Neither the nature nor severity of the injuries were specified.

“As firefighters attempted to extinguish the fire, a portion of the trailer exploded, injuring some of the firefighters,” according to the statement. “Shortly thereafter, a second explosion occurred, damaging a portion of the roof of the water tower.”

The incident is being investigated by the state fire marshal’s office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Phillips County Sheriff’s Department.