Propane tank blamed for Vernal explosion
VERNAL — Officials say they believe a leaking propane tank caused an explosion at a Uintah County industrial park that destroyed one building and damaged eleven more.
Lt. Steve Winward of the Utah Department of Public Safety says a truck had delivered two 250-gallon propane tanks to a building in the Ashley Valley Industrial Park on Friday night.
Winward tells The Salt Lake Tribune the tank’s leak valve may have been stuck open, and the escaped gas ignited a little after midnight.
The explosion prompted an evacuation of homes around the park in Jensen, near Vernal, but no injuries were reported.
The industrial park is run by Vernal-based Adler Hot Oil Service, which sells trucks for cleaning oil and gas processing equipment, and pumping fluids down well bores.