Update:
An oil tank explosion in Arvin has left one man dead and another critically injured. A crew had been doing demolition work on old oil tanks behind the Arvin fire department at 301 Campus Drive. Preliminary reports indicate one tank still had some hydrocarbon vapors trapped in the tank's pipes which ignited and exploded when cutting operations started. The explosion sent the tank over 30 feet in the air and sent a man 50 feet into the air, killing him. Another man suffered burns and was airlifted to Kern Medical Center with critical injuries.
Staff at the Grimmway Academy Charter school felt the explosion but there were no children on campus. Arvin high says classes are still in session and kids that walk home may have to take alternate routes due to the road closure.
The coroner's office has identified the employee who was killed as 24-year-old Cesar Martinez of Arvin.
The original release as follows:
There has been an oil well explosion in Arvin. Crews are on headed to the scene right now in the 300 block Campus Drive behind the fire station. Emergency crews tell us the explosion has killed one person and critically injured another. We have a 17 News crew on the way to the scene and we'll bring you more information and a live report as soon as we get it.
