USA – Fire at HF Sinclair’s Artesia Refinery Sends Three Workers to Hospital
A fire erupted at HF Sinclair’s Navajo Refinery in Artesia, New Mexico, on Oct. 31 after an explosion was reported at the facility. Thick smoke drifted over nearby parts of the city as emergency crews rushed to the site.
Emergency Response and Injuries
Police, firefighters, and other first responders arrived quickly and contained the flames. HF Sinclair confirmed that the fire was extinguished and that three individuals were transported off-site to receive medical treatment. No additional injuries were reported.
Air Quality and Public Safety
According to HF Sinclair spokesperson Corinn Smith, air monitoring was conducted both around the perimeter of the refinery and in the surrounding community. Results indicated no risk to public safety. By Friday afternoon, the smoke had cleared and surrounding roads were reopened. The New Mexico Environment Department dispatched a team to evaluate conditions and continue air-quality monitoring.
Refinery Operations and Location
The refinery is situated near Artesia’s primary intersection, a key transportation corridor that connects the Permian Basin to the rest of New Mexico. The company’s website states that the plant is capable of processing up to 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it the largest refinery in the state. It remains uncertain how the incident affected production or whether any units were taken offline.
About HF Sinclair
HF Sinclair, based in Dallas, Texas, operates the Artesia facility along with another refinery in Lovington, located roughly 65 miles (105 km) away. The company also owns refineries in Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Utah and Washington state, supplying fuel products across the southwestern United States.
Photo credit: Susan Montoya Bryan. All rights reserved.