Several in hospital after explosion, fire at oil well north of Cochrane

Because it was a workplace accident Occupational Health and Safety will be taking over the investigation, said Cpl. Gina Slaney

An oil well fire in Rocky View County sent five people to hospital Monday afternoon and crews were still battling the blaze hours later, says an RCMP spokesperson.

Cochrane RCMP and emergency services responded around 2:15 p.m. to reports of an explosion on a lease site off Range Road 40 north of Big Hill Springs Road, according to Cpl. Gina Slaney.

Five people were injured in the explosion, two more critical than the others. They were all taken to Calgary hospitals, Slaney said.