UTAH RESIDENTS WHOSE HOMES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE SILVER EAGLE REFINERY EXPLOSION ON WEDNESDAY CAN CALL BELFOR PROPERTY RESTORATION AT 801-936-1212 FOR ASSISTANCE. IF A HOME WAS DAMAGED BY THE SILVER EAGLE REFINERY EXPLOSION, SILVER EAGLE WILL PAY FOR THE SERVICE.
WOODS CROSS, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Emergency Crews responded to an explosion and fire at the Silver Eagle refinery Wednesday Morning.
The refinery is located at 2355 South 1100 West.
Smoke could be seen from miles away.
Bountiful Fire authorities say the fire originated in a furnace, and that no injuries were reported. According to South Metro Davis Fire Chief Bassett, the explosion happened when a pipe carrying hydrogen mixed with diesel leaked onto the ground and ignited.
Bassett says the explosion damaged 3 homes near 925 West 2200 South.
Silver Eagle President Dave McSwain later told ABC 4 News a different version of events.
In a statement released to the media, McSwain said it was premature to report a diesel fuel leak, and that there were two power surges at the refinery seconds before the explosion.
The statement went on to say:
"We are still gathering facts as to why [the explosion] occurred and are working with nearby residents to evaluate the damage."
One of the damaged homes belongs to Linda Wood, and was knocked off its foundation by the blast. Fire officials condemned the home. Wood was working as a volunteer at Woods Cross Elementary when she, like many in Davis County, heard and felt the explosion. She left the school and went home to discover her house basically in ruins.
Kristy Horne was luckier. A wall most likely absorbed the impact.
"The wall saved our house," said Horne. "We've been here four years, and this has already happened twice."
James Lowe, who leases a home in the neighborhood has had enough.
"We're getting out of here," said Lowe. "It knocked me out of bed."
The explosion also caused a power bump to other refineries in the area, prompting them to vent smoke and flames into the air as a safety measure, according to Bassett.
Witnesses reported to ABC 4 News via Twitter that they felt and heard a loud explosion at around 9:00 a.m. Wednesday.
One tweet said, "Our office just shook like crazy because a nearby refinery had an explosion. It felt like an earthquake. Absolutely crazy."
A worker at an nearby office building said an explosion shook the building and that it felt like an airplane was landing on the building.
ABC4.com viewer Marissa Roberts of Farmington e-mailed ABC 4 News saying, "It wasn't just neighbors who felt it! I called my friend in North Salt Lake and she picked up the phone and said "Oh my heck!" "What was that!" She said her house shook and she heard a big boom. I live in Farmington and about 30 seconds later I heard a sound like a fast jet passing over and my house shook! I wouldn't have thought much about it if I hadn't been talking to my friend at that moment."
Other ABC 4 viewers reported hearing of feeling the tremors from the blast as far away as Layton.
A major explosion also occurred at the Silver Eagle Refinery on January 12, 2009 which severely injured four workers.
