A rig explosion devastated Pittsburg County on Monday as five employees on the site were presumed dead pending identification of remains by the state Medical Examiner’s office.
Emergency officials received calls about a rig fire around 8:45 a.m. Monday and aerial footage of the scene later showed the derrick at Patterson 219 was ablaze as smoke plumed for hours before it crumbled.
The Pittsburg County Emergency Management Office said among agencies responding to the incident were multiple fire departments and rescue teams, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, sheriff departments and emergency management offices from Haskell Pittsburg and Haskell counties, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, Quinton Police Department, Carl Albert Mental Health Crisis Unit, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the American Red Cross, and more.
Greater Refuge United Pentecostal Church also opened its doors for victims and their families.
The following are links to fundraisers and informational sites regarding the industry’s tragedy. Sincere thoughts & prayers go out to all those affected by our industry’s tragedy. Let us all count our blessings, be full of gratitude and lend a helping hand where we can.
Quinton Oil Rig Explosion-Family
https://www.gofundme.com/patterson219
Matthew Smith (Patterson Rig 219) Family Support Fund
https://www.youcaring.com/julieandrhettsmith-1077013?fb_action_ids=1790575084286425&fb_action_types=youcaringcom%3Adonate&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B1749462211771894%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22youcaringcom%3Adonate%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D
The Pittsburg County Emergency Management Office
https://pittsburg.okcounties.org/offices/Emergency%20Management
Oklahoma United TShirt
https://ip-tees.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/oklahoma-united-tee
If you have a site that will assist the families, authorities and industry, please feel free to let us know and we will add it to the list.
