Two Injured, Others Believed Dead After Gas Station Explodes in Idaho

Conservative News DailySeptember 13, 2024

A tragic incident occurred at a gas station in Cardiff, Idaho, where an explosion and fire resulted in severe injuries⁢ and fatalities. Officials reported that two individuals suffered critical burns and were airlifted‍ to ⁢a hospital, ⁢while two others ⁢are believed to ⁢have perished in the event. The explosion, which happened just after 3 p.m. on a Wednesday, ‍also destroyed nearby structures and created a large debris field.

The gas station was offloading fuel at the time of the explosion, although the ⁢cause remains unknown. Eyewitness accounts suggest there may‌ have been customers inside the store during the ‌blast. The local sheriff’s office is investigating the incident with assistance from ‌federal agents, but the absence of cell service in the remote area has hindered information flow. Community members, including staff ‍from Atkinson Distributing, have expressed their condolences ‌and appreciation for the⁣ first responders involved.

Officials say two people were badly burned and two others are believed to be dead after an explosion and fire destroyed a gas station in a small north-central Idaho town.

The explosion at the Atkinson Distributing station in Cardiff was reported just after 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Clearwater County Sheriff’s office said in a news release, and two people with severe burns were flown by air ambulance to a hospital in a nearby city. More people were believed to be inside the building, the sheriff’s office said, but no additional details were released.

Another two people were also taken to area hospitals, said Idaho State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl on Thursday, but the nature of their injuries was not known.

“It’s a pretty devastating incident. I believe there have been structures destroyed besides the gas station, and there is a pretty large debris field,” that covers an area roughly the size of two city blocks, Sandahl said.

Jeff Adams, a manager with Atkinson Distributing, said Thursday that the people who were flown to a hospital burn center in Seattle are Atkinson employees. Both were in critical condition, he said.

“Evidently there were a couple of customers in the store that did not get out,” Adams said. “We’d like to extend our prayers to everybody, and thank the first responders and everybody who turned out to try to help. We very much appreciate it.”

A fuel tanker was offloading fuel at the station when the explosion occurred, Adams said, but it wasn’t yet known what caused the explosion.

“We’re just like everybody else — we’re waiting around trying to get information,” Adams said. “When we went up there last night, they wouldn’t let us get anywhere near it.”

Sandahl said two of his deputy fire marshals are at the station to investigate, and they are being assisted by a special agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The remote mountain town does not have cell service, and Sandahl did not yet have any details about the explosion.

“Unfortunately the flow of information is kind of difficult without any cell service,” Sandahl said. “They’re still sifting through the debris.”

The Cardiff gas station is only staffed during the logging season, according to the company’s website, and it includes a small convenience store with snacks and drinks.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.