DALLAS PIKE, W.Va. — Wheeling-Ohio County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo says there is no threat to the environment following an explosion at a truck cleaning facility in the county that left two people injured.
A report of an explosion was called into the Ohio County 911 Emergency Service around 8 p.m. Monday, Vargo told MetroNews. When first responders arrived on scene along Dallas Pike Road, the building was fully engulfed and is now considered a total loss.
Vargo said the explosion occurred as workers were cleaning a tank of a truck. He said it remains under investigation by local authorities on how it happened but said there was no chemical release into the environment.
“The chemicals is the cleaning solution, it’s caustic. Since they mix it with water, we didn’t have any concern with fighting the fire with water,” Vargo said.
The fire was put out around 10 p.m. in wintry conditions.
Vargo said the two victims were severely burned and taken to Wheeling Hospital by Valley Grove EMS. The victims could not be flown to a hospital because of the weather, according to Vargo.
The extent of their injuries was unknown.