Staff reports

Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more information is available.

An explosion at the oil refinery in Artesia led to three injuries as the incident was reported at about 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 31 and police ordered nearby residents to shelter indoors and avoid the area.

The Artesia Police Department was responding to the incident at the refinery owned by HF Sinclair-Navajo at 501. E. Main St., according to a department news release.

Artesia police Cmdr. Pete Quinones said injuries were reported, but no casualties as of about 2 p.m.

HF-Sinclair reported on the day of the incident that three were treated for injuries. The company did not divulge the names of the people or specify if they were workers at the plant or the extent their injuries

Police were called to the scene at 11:19 a.m., blocking roads going in and out of the refinery, part of which abuts U.S. Highway 285 heading north-south through town. An hour after police arrived, Quinones said the fires were out, and roads were reopened.

The company was continuing to monitor air quality impacts in the area from the blast and subsequent fire.

By 1 p.m., Artesia police said the explosion was extinguished by emergency responders and roads were reopened. All emergency staff cleared the area.

The Eddy County Office of Emergency Management said at about noon, Friday that an air ambulance was sent to the facility, asking people to avoid the area 1st and Main streets as well as U.S. Highway 82 and Bolton Road where a landing zone was prepared.

Police warned of “thick smoke” emanating from the refinery and drifting over the city, which could pose a danger to people nearby, the release read.

Air quality continued to be monitored after the scene was cleared.

“We are urging all citizens to stay clear of the refinery area and avoid any locations affected by the smoke,” read the initial release. “Please shelter indoors if you are in the path of the smoke and keep windows and doors closed.”

Katherine Tesillo was working at the front desk as assistant manager of the Spark by Hilton hotel at the time of the incident, across the street from the refinery.

She said she didn’t hear the blast but immediately noticed heavy smoke spreading into the area. The hotel remained in operation throughout the incident, Tesillo said.

“(I) saw smoke but did not see the actual explosion,” she said. “I heard sirens going off and I knew something was going on.”

In the wake of the explosion the New Mexico Environment Department said it was monitoring air quality in the Artesia area, aiming to address any hazards to local residents who could breathe in the resulting fumes.

The agency advised locals to follow guidance from emegency personnel, stay indoors and keeping windows closed to avoid air pollutants from flowing into homes.

“We’re working closely with local and state partners to see how this fire might affect air quality,” said Cindy Hollenberg, Air Quality Bureau chief. “State teams are on the way to Artesia to take a closer look and help support the response. Keeping the community safe and informed is our top priority.”

The refinery processes crude oil produced in southeast New Mexico’s Permian Basin oilfields, with a capacity of about 100,000 barrels per day, according to HF-Sinclair’s website.