An explosion at a storage and disposal facility in Montana’s eastern oil fields late Wednesday night was powerful enough to be felt as far as ten miles (16 kilometers) away. Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities occurred due to the blast.
According to Richland County Emergency Manager Brandon Roth, the fire has persisted into Thursday, as emergency teams are exercising caution and awaiting a safer opportunity to access the site.
The incident took place at a saltwater disposal plant located approximately 3 miles or 4.8 kilometers south of Sidney, Montana. This facility sits in a rural region near the North Dakota border, which is known for its abundance of oil and gas wells along with numerous storage sites.
While several storage tanks were burning at the location, Roth mentioned that there is no available information regarding the contents of these tanks or the ownership of the facility. Currently, the cause behind the explosion remains under investigation.