At about 9:27 a.m. on September 5, 2008, Employee #1, was assigned to remove the cap of a check valve on a propane tank to connect a valve with a hose for a “pump down.” Instead, he removed the entire check valve, causing the rapid release of a large amount of liquid propane. The vapor cloud was ignited by a water heater located over 25 feet away, and a flash fire ensued.
Employee #1 was hospitalized for second-degree burns on his arms, chest, back, and face.