Smoky fire that forced evacuations out at Wisconsin refinery
Authorities said Thursday that a fire at a northwestern Wisconsin refinery where an explosion injured at least 11 people was out, but that an evacuation order for residents of Superior would remain and be re-evaluated throughout the night.
Douglas County officials said Thursday evening that the fire was extinguished and residents in the evacuation area were being asked to stay away from their homes for at least another two hours. But late Thursday night, Superior police gave another update, saying the evacuation order would stay in place.
The fire had poured thick clouds of noxious black smoke into the air after the explosion rocked the refinery. Schools and a hospital also were evacuated.
Authorities said a tank of crude oil or asphalt exploded about 10 a.m. at the Husky Energy oil refinery in Superior, a city of about 27,000 that shares a Lake Superior shipping port with nearby Duluth, Minnesota. That prompted them to order the evacuation of a 3-mile (5-kilometre) radius around the refinery, as well as a 10-mile (16 kilometre) corridor south of it where the smoke was heading.