FOWLER, New York (WWNY) – A fuel truck explosion and fire in the town of Fowler injured one person Tuesday morning.
“All of a sudden I just heard a big blast and the pictures were falling off the wall. I come running out. It kind of felt like the whole house was shaking. Then I saw some smoke coming over the top of Tripp’s garage,” said neighbor Bradley Blackburn.
A fuel truck exploded at around 10:30 a.m. at Tripp Fuels on County Route 22. A mechanic was hurt, although state police say his injuries are not life-threatening.
After the blast, Blackburn and two Fort Drum soldiers rushed over to help the wounded man.
Blackburn says the mechanic is his childhood friend, Jon Kelley (we’re awaiting official confirmation of his name and spelling). He says Kelley was working on top of the truck and was blown off it. Blackburn saw his friend lying flat and visibly burned.
“It shakes you up. It’s nerve-wracking especially when you know people. Even if you didn’t know people, it sets in more when you know them. You know they’re in pain,” he said.
Blackburn was worried more fuel trucks could explode too. With the help of 2 Fort Drum soldiers who were eating at a diner next door, they carried Kelley to safety, started clearing fuel from Kelley’s wounds, and then wrapped him in blankets.
According to Blackburn, Kelley was hurt but could talk.
“We made him as comfortable as we could until the ambulance and people got here to take care of him,” he said.
Kelley was taken in a helicopter to Syracuse. Blackburn says it all happened quickly and hopes for the best for his friend.
“John’s gonna be sore and gonna be messed up for a while, but I know the guy. He’ll bounce back,” he said.
According to its website, Tripp Fuels supplies fuel oil, kerosene, diesel, gasoline, and propane to homes, businesses, and farms.
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