Originally published on KCBD
ACKERLY, Texas (KCBD) – Three employees of the Flower Grove Co-op Gin near Ackerly are recovering from burns after an explosion Thursday morning. All three are expected to survive.
An OSHA investigation has started into what caused that explosion. The entire interior of the building was destroyed and the outside was heavily damaged.
All three employees were inside an office in the gin when it exploded around 7:20 a.m.
All three were taken to the hospital. Two of them were airlifted to University Medical Center in Lubbock and the third was sent to a hospital in Lamesa.
Gin management says the facility will be inoperable for at least one year.
A preliminary fire marshal’s investigation found there was more than likely a butane leak that no one knew about. They believe that caused the explosion after one of the men flipped a light switch inside. However, the gin manager says further investigation is needed.
No specific conditions were given on the three men. At this time their identities have not been released.
