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Worker seriously burned by fire at Colo. petroleum well

Fire officials said a backfiring engine ignited vapor from the tank

Associated Press

GREELEY, Colo. — Officials say a fire at a northern Colorado petroleum well has seriously burned a worker.

The Greeley Fire Department says the fire broke out Monday in a tank about 3 miles west of Greeley.

The injured worker was taken to North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley. The person’s name hasn’t been released.

The fire department says the tank held water that was used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Fracking uses a high-pressure mix of water, sand and chemicals to break open formations and release oil or gas.

Officials say a backfiring engine ignited vapor from the tank.

The fire department says releasing vapor from the tank is a normal. Officials say weather conditions kept the vapor close to the ground, where it came in contact with the engine.

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