North Pekin Hicks Explosion

[WVREIS]

Today around 9:30 am the Hicks Gas Plant in North Pekin had an explosion. 3 workers were injured in the explosion. One is an Assistant Chief for the Forman Fire Protection District and Manager of the Hicks Plant. Another victim is the son of a Canton Fire Officer. Both are at the Burn Center in Springfield and Listed in critical condition. Please keep everyone injured today in your prayers. No firefighters or emergency personnel were injured in the 8+ hours they spent on scene today. I will post more information when it comes to light. Below is a link for the story on the WEEK News 25 Site.


http://www.week.com/Story.aspx?type=ln&NStoryID=40231

[BVFD1983]

Peoria, Pekin, North Pekin, Creve Couer, Marquette Heights, and Northern Tazewell were there. Bartonville was at MH's station.

[WVREIS]

My Dept, covered north pekin, and South Pekin, Green Valley and Delevan Also were on stand-by if needed.

Updates on Conditions:

As of last night the Forman Assistant Chief had 20-30% burns to his chest, arms, waist line, and some burns to his lungs. Most were 2nd degree with some area's of 3rd degree. He is listed in critical but stable condition.

The Canton Assistant Chiefs son has 55-60% burns across his body. The Ambulance Chief from forman was not able to get any more information than that.

I'll Update later today when I know more.

[chrnea]

Our Prayers are with these Brothers!!

[jboczek]

Was this all propane? Big tanks, small ones or what?

[WVREIS]

It was all propane to my knowledge. There are a few stories as to what occured, but nothing official as of yet. The first we heard was that the truck pulled into the plant and was found to be on fire. The other was they were offloading from one tank to another when the explosion occured. I know their main tank did not explode, but the fill house is demolished. Which leads me to believe that the offloading story is probably the truth. I am waiting to hear back from North Pekin on the exact cause, and will update when I hear the official reason.

[Weruj1]

Speedy recovery to the our Flatlander brothers ................

[WVREIS]

Update:

We talked with the family of the Forman Assistant Chief last night, he was going in for skin grafts this morning. Witnesses stated when the explosion occured he ran into the fire to pull out the Canton Assistant Chiefs son, thus resulting in his burns.

The Family is requesting that firefighters not visit at this time.

The Canton Assistant Chiefs son had to go in for debreeding the other day, and is still listed in critical condition.

There was a third injured in the explosion, he is at OSF in Peoria listed in Fair Condition. I don't have any information on his injuries.

I am heading into the ambulance at noon and will get a little better information when I get down there. The cause still had not been determined as of this morning.

[WVREIS]

I don't have any updates other than pictures from the fire can be found at www.npfd.org