VAN ZANDT COUNTY, TX (KLTV) -
An early morning explosion and fire at an oil storage facility in Van Zandt County injured two young East Texans Tuesday.
Two 24-year-olds were smoking on top of the storage tanks when one of the tanks exploded. Both people involved in the explosion were taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.
Their identities have been released by hospital officials. They are 24-year-olds Brandy Wolfe and H.R. Price. Price is no longer at Parkland, and Wolfe is listed there in good condition.
The Van Zandt County Fire Marshal, as well as Tyler, Grand Saline and Lindale Fire Departments, responded to the scene of the explosion on Highway 110 N. near County Road 1507 just before 3:00 a.m.
The fire is completely out at this time, but gas, oil and salt water spilled into a nearby creek. Three Forks, the company that owns the storage facility, is examining the damage and trying to clean up the creek.
Representatives say that although only one of the four tanks exploded, the other three are a Total loss. The large containers were holding salt water that comes up from drilling.
"It is a salt water disposal facility. Salt water comes through the centeral battery and then it is pumped back into the ground, as in a disposal well. It is just a holding facility just for," Three Forks representative, Billy Wilson, said.
The victims were not employees of the oil company responsible for the storage facility. No charges have been filed against the two at this time.
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