Explosion & Fire at Smith County, Texas Oil Production Facility
An explosion and fire reported Monday night, Oct 14, at a Smith County, Texas oil production facility owned by Vess Oil Corp is contained and under investigation. According to news reports, a couple of small buildings at a skimming station off of County Road 313 East caught fire and spread to oil storage tanks, resulting in the explosion with flames shooting 50 feet into the sky, visible from miles away.
According to reports, no workers were onsite at the time of the explosion. A firefighter living near the oil facility reported the large fire at about 10pm. Firefighters from Red Springs, Lindale and Winona fire departments worked the scene and had contained the blaze early Tuesday morning.
The fire caused storage tanks to leak thousands of gallons of an oil and saltwater mixture, according to news reports. Emergency crews had stopped the leaks early Tuesday morning and firefighters continued to monitor the scene.
Texas oil production continues to increase, and with the oil boom comes an increase in explosions, fires, and other oil-related accidents. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in this explosion and fire.
Michael S Callahan is an attorney and founder of The Callahan Law Firm. He focuses his practice on representing individuals and families in personal injury cases involving motor vehicle and truck accidents, workplace accidents and defective products. With over 25 years of experience, he is dedicated to fighting on behalf of people whose lives have been forever altered by the negligence and carelessness of corporations and individuals. Originally trained as a mechanical engineer, Michael has been practicing law and fighting for justice for those who need it most since 1994. He is board-certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a member of various esteemed legal associations. Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending quality time with his family, outdoor activities, and continually striving to improve as a trial lawyer and human being.
