Yesterday started out like any other day (when Scott is on day shift) He woke up at 3 am to get ready to go to work… I rolled over in bed to check my phone (and get on facebook, yes I’m addicted, I admit it) when I came across a post stating that Bonanza had been evacuated and that the highway was closed because there was a fire at American Gilsonite (Where Scott works), so I jumped out of bed and ran into the kitchen to mention it to Scott – well not knowing what to expect, he still went to the parking lot to catch the bus and he ended up going to work…but the plant where Scott works was completely damaged! :( It made for a very stressful and emotional day…But the good news about all of this…Nobody was hurt (not the employees, not the firemen, nobody!) So that is a HUGE relief! But it still is a very sad thing!
Here is what the Vernal Express had to say about it:
An early morning fire destroyed one of two American Gilsonite Co. processing plants in Bonanza.
The fire began about 12:30 a.m., according to Uintah Fire District Executive Director Jeremy Raymond. It was unknown whether the plant was in operation at the time, but there were American Gilsonite employees in the area, Raymond said.
Stuart Green, chief operating officer and senior vice president for American Gilsonite's Bonanza mining operations, said no one was injured in the blaze.
"We're very happy about that," Green said.
It took firefighters from Jensen, Naples and Vernal more than eight hours to put the fire out. A small crew is still at the scene to ensure that there are no flare ups.
Investigators with the Bureau of Land Management were in Bonanza early Wednesday and officials with the federal Mining Safety and Health Administration were expected to arrive later in the day. The Utah State Fire Marshal's Office is also expected to send an investigator to the scene, which is about 40 miles south of Vernal.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Raymond said.
Gilsonite is a unique industrial mineral found only in eastern Utah, according to American Gilsonite's corporate website.
The company and its predecessors have been providing Gilsonite products and services since 1888. The glossy black, solid hydrocarbon resin, which is similar in appearance to coal, was first discovered in 1860 by Samuel H. Gilson.
Gilsonite is used in the manufacture of acid, alkali, and waterproof coatings.
This morning My Parents and I (And the kids, because Mikylee stayed home sick) drove out to Bonanza to see the damages for ourselves. The newspaper had posted a couple of pictures online…and well they didn’t do justice at all!!
And after we got back into town, we got Wendy’s for lunch! These were taken when we were in the drive-thru lol…
