Posted 3:50 pm Thursday, November 19, 2009
Bullard Man Killed, 1 Critically Injured In Gas Well Blowout
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
GRAND CANE, La. — A natural gas well blowout has killed one Bullard resident and critically injured his daughter's boyfriend as they worked on well site in DeSoto Parish Wednesday morning.
Staff Writer
GRAND CANE, La. — A natural gas well blowout has killed one Bullard resident and critically injured his daughter's boyfriend as they worked on well site in DeSoto Parish Wednesday morning.
James “Jay” Dennis, 58, of Bullard, was pronounced dead at the scene and 30-year-old Jimmy Siler was transported to LSU Hospital in Shreveport, where he is listed in critical condition.
Capt. Charlie Metcalf of the DeSoto Parish District 8 Fire Department said his department was notified of the blowout shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday and responded to the scene on George Hunt Road.
“We arrived on scene and were instructed by personnel there were two victims still on the location. We sent a team of several firefighters up to the site to attempt a rescue,” he said.
Metcalf said the firefighters were successful in their attempt to reach the men, who were working for Dynasty Transportation LLC of Broussard and a contractor of Chesapeake Energy who owned the well, and transported the men to awaiting EMS personnel.
Metcalf said Dennis was pronounced dead at the scene and Siler was transported from the scene.
The fire captain said seven firefighters from his department began experiencing bronchial problems and were transported to local hospitals to be checked out. He added several other Dynasty workers were treated on the scene for injuries.
Metcalf said homes in the area had been evacuated and state HAZMAT teams were on scene today tending the well with firefighters standing by.
Metcalf he did not know what caused the blowout.
“We just responded to the scene where a blowout had already occurred,” he said.
Jo Ann Loftin, a family member of Dennis, said the family was in shock over the accident.
“Jay loved life, the outdoors and loved to fish. He was a great family man who was married to his wife for 30 years and had two daughters who were the apple of his eye,” she said.
Loftin said Siler was in surgery the last she heard, but did not have any additional information to his condition.
She added Siler was the boyfriend of one of Dennis's daughter's.
“The family is just in shock right now and trying to deal with all of this,” she said.
"Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and injured," said Kevin McCotter of Chesapeake Energy Corp. in an e-mail.
Updated Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. CST
“We arrived on scene and were instructed by personnel there were two victims still on the location. We sent a team of several firefighters up to the site to attempt a rescue,” he said.
Metcalf said the firefighters were successful in their attempt to reach the men, who were working for Dynasty Transportation LLC of Broussard and a contractor of Chesapeake Energy who owned the well, and transported the men to awaiting EMS personnel.
Metcalf said Dennis was pronounced dead at the scene and Siler was transported from the scene.
The fire captain said seven firefighters from his department began experiencing bronchial problems and were transported to local hospitals to be checked out. He added several other Dynasty workers were treated on the scene for injuries.
Metcalf said homes in the area had been evacuated and state HAZMAT teams were on scene today tending the well with firefighters standing by.
Metcalf he did not know what caused the blowout.
“We just responded to the scene where a blowout had already occurred,” he said.
Jo Ann Loftin, a family member of Dennis, said the family was in shock over the accident.
“Jay loved life, the outdoors and loved to fish. He was a great family man who was married to his wife for 30 years and had two daughters who were the apple of his eye,” she said.
Loftin said Siler was in surgery the last she heard, but did not have any additional information to his condition.
She added Siler was the boyfriend of one of Dennis's daughter's.
“The family is just in shock right now and trying to deal with all of this,” she said.
"Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and injured," said Kevin McCotter of Chesapeake Energy Corp. in an e-mail.
Updated Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. CST
