Putnam County Explosion Injures Two

PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. -- More than 50 barrels exploded during an incident in Putnam County that injured two employees at a shipping company.

The explosion was reported just after 3 p.m. Monday at Airgas along Route 62 in Black Betsy, W.Va. That's between Poca and Bancroft.

Emergency crews at the scene say the two men were taken to Cabell-Huntington Hospital with first and second-degree burns, but the injuries do not appear life threatening.

Firefighters report that more than 50 tanks of Acetylene that were held in a bunker in the plant exploded. The explosions then caused a fire inside the building.

Acetylene is used in the welding process.

The two workers hurt were working near the tanks when the explosion happened, according to firefighters.

Emergency crews say one employee was burned on his face. The other man suffered burns to his arms.

When crews arrived on the scene, flames were coming from the supply company. It took crews about 30 minutes to extinguish the fire.

OSHA has taken over the investigation. The State Fire Marshal's Office was also at the scene. OSHA officials were not commenting about the incident Monday night.