HAVEN, Kan. (KWCH) -
7:15 p.m. Update: The Reno County Emergency Management director tells the
Hutch Post that there will be a large, potentially loud gas release at the site of Thursday’s explosions in Haven around 7:15 to 7:30 p.m.
Weishaar said releases from the Tenawa Gas facility are routine, but given the situation earlier in the day, he wanted to alert the public before this release.
7:10 p.m. Update: K-96 has reopened in Reno County following an explosion at the Tenawa Gas plant near Haven. Kent Road remains closed. Those who were forced to evacuate the area within a two-mile radius of the plant have also been allowed back in.
6:25 p.m. Update: Firefighters are still working to extinguish a fire that left two people injured in Reno County on Thursday. Both were taken to the hospital, but the emergency manager says their injuries are minor.
Crews were called to an explosion and fire at the Tenawa Gas plant near Haven around 1:15 p.m. A two-mile radius around the plant was evacuated. While gas to the plant has been cut off but the fire is still not out.
The plant is listed as a cryogenic processing plant by the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce. The plant is used to separate natural gas that comes from wells into different components. The process involves dropping the gas to a very low temperature in order to allow for the separation before the gas is transported elsewhere by pipeline.
Because this line is considered an interstate line, it does not fall under the authority of the Kansas Corporation Commission but rather the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
We do have a call into the agency. We will continue to follow this story and bring you any new updates throughout the night.
3:50 p.m. Update: Two people have been transported to a hospital in Wichita following an explosion and fire at the Tenawa Haven Gas Plant. Reno County Emergency Manager Adam Weishaar said they only suffered minor injuries.
Crews were called to the fire on Kent Road around 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. Weishaar said they were met with heavy smoke and flames as well as some explosions.
“The biggest difficulties, we immediately evacuated within a two-mile radius from this thing. About a half-mile away, you could feel the heat and see the smoke coming off of it, so it was imperative to get that big perimeter set up that way our units weren’t at risk, and with that, getting the gas shut off, getting close enough to those gas valves,” said Weishaar.
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Tami Lindt lives just over a mile and a half away from the Tenawa Haven Gas Plant. She was one of the homeowners who was asked to leave. She said when the initial explosion happened, everything in her house shook. Hours later, she’s still in shock after seeing the explosion.
“I was sitting in the house and all of a sudden I heard this noise that I actually thought was a jet or a giant plane above the house and then I heard an explosion and I thought something. Actually, I thought a plane had crashed and everything in the house was vibrating. I ran out of the house and flames were shooting out everywhere,” said Lindt.
She said all of her family lives in the area, so when they were asked to evacuate, she grabbed her dogs and started coming up with an escape plan.
Weishaar said the Reno County Commission signed a local disaster declaration to allow for state resources to come in and assist with the fire fight.
Units from Burrton, Colwich, McPherson, and Mt. Hope have been called in to assist with the fire. K-96 will remain closed for the next several hours to allow firefighters to transport the foam and water needed to the fire.
Crews will remain on the scene to monitor the fire. Weishaar said that at this time, there is no risk to public safety.
Update: USD 312 Haven Schools says it is keeping students in place while firefighters work to respond to the fire and explosion at the gas plant in town. The district said parents can come to pick up their students, but students will be bussed as normal when the time comes.
Firefighters are responding to a large explosion and fire at Haven Midstream (formerly the Tenawa Haven Gas plant), northwest of Wichita.
Reno County dispatchers say K-96 is closed east of Yoder and east of Haven.
The City of Haven says it is absolutely imperative that people avoid the area.
Those within Haven City limits are not being evacuated at this time. Evacuations at the Haven Steel plant.
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