15th anniversary of Refinery Explosion in Big Spring

On President’s Day 2008, at approximately 8:20 a.m. an explosion at the Alon Oil Refinery, located at I-20 and Refinery Rd., in Big Spring occurred and could be felt throughout Howard County and beyond – even as far as 90 miles away in San Angelo. The explosion shattered or cracked glass windows, walls, and doors.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a large, black smoke plume rose up to 6500 feet in the atmosphere, and drifted slowly to the east northeast away from Big Spring. Refinery, Texas Department of Public Safety, Howard County Emergency Management, and Big Spring and Midland Fire departments responded to the incident. Highway I-20 was closed, and it was also reported limited evacuation of the immediate area and nearby Sid Richardson Plant was conducted.

A total of five injuries were reported as a result of the incident, including 1 woman who was driving on I-20 who’s vehicle had been struck by flying debris. None of the injuries reported were life-threatening.

At the time, the refinery employed about 170 people and produced some 70,000 barrels a day. The number of injuries was believed to have been reduced, because it was President’s Day, and some workers were not on the job at the time of the explosion.