Authorities have confirmed the identities of two individuals who lost their lives in a gas station explosion and fire in a remote town in Idaho. The Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Brandon Cook, 53, from Orofino, and Wesley Lineberry, 62, from Pierce, were the victims of the incident at the Atkinson Distributing station in Cardiff on Sept. 11.
Two other individuals suffered severe burns in the explosion and subsequent fire and were still receiving medical treatment in the hospital as of Wednesday. The injured parties were identified as fuel tanker driver Donny Billeter and gas station attendant Roxann Hubbs, according to separate GoFundMe pages.
Idaho State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl explained that a fuel tanker semi-truck was refilling the above-ground tanks at the station when the explosion occurred shortly after 3 p.m. The blast destroyed the tanker and caused debris, such as truck components, pipelines, parts of the tank, and sections of the gas station building, to scatter across an area approximately the size of a city block.
While both the tanker truck driver and the gas station attendant were in close proximity to the truck during the explosion, Lineberry and Cook were discovered just outside the gas station. However, investigators have yet to confirm whether they were inside or outside the building when the tragedy unfolded, said Sandahl.
The cause of the explosion remains undetermined, with assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration being sought for the investigation. Sandahl mentioned that thorough investigations were ongoing and anticipated providing more detailed information sometime in October.
The explosion and fire caused damage to nearby structures, and the presence of remaining fuel at the site presented challenges for the investigative process. A regional hazardous materials response team was summoned to help manage the risks involved.
Sandahl noted that gas station explosions are uncommon, stating that this incident was the first he had encountered during his 19 years as a state fire marshal in Idaho. Despite the increased risk involved in offloading fuel from tanker trucks to a station’s storage tanks, the process is generally considered safe due to drivers adhering to specific safety protocols.
He also highlighted that the most hazardous practices involve refueling vehicles while smoking or transferring fuel into plastic gas containers in trucks, as these actions elevate the likelihood of sparks from static electricity. Sandahl emphasized that it is the volatile fumes that pose a danger, and any introduction of a spark could lead to a hazardous situation.