Fire marshal's office believes oil tank explosion was an accident | News

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Fire marshal's office believes oil tank explosion was an accident

Submitted by Brian Boesen

Monday, July 30th, 2012, 6:29pm

Topics: News

WHITE CO, IL (WFIE)-

The Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office say they believe last week's oil tank explosion that left four men hurt in White County was an accident.

However, it's up to OSHA to determine whether or not the explosion could have been prevented.

The state fire marshal's office says the four men were doing repairs on the oil tank when the explosion occurred.

The men were hurt and sent to the hospital with burns after the oil tank exploded last Tuesday afternoon near Norris City.

Brandon Hooper of Fairfield has since been released from the hospital. Shane Farris of Enfield is still at University of Louisville Hospital. John Sullivan of Herald is also in Louisville. He is in serious condition. Jason Parr of Norris City is in fair condition at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

The state fire marshal's office says it will continue it's investigation to determine what caused the explosion.

"One of the workers was trying to repair a leak in the tank when the whole thing happened. Other than that, I don't have anything else more specific because the report is not in yet," said Milly Santiago with Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office.

State fire marshals hope to have their report completed next week, and then OSHA will look at those findings as its investigators continue to comb through evidence. OSHA will then have up to six months to decide whether or not there were safety violations and if fines will be issued.

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