OKLAHOMA CITY – A local man is recovering in an Oklahoma City hospital after an oilfield explosion near Fay left him severely burned.
Rowdy Blankenship, whose family operates Watonga’s Garden Spot Market and the Brody Gene Sims Memorial Benefit, was injured in the explosion last Thursday, Jan. 20, southeast of Fay. The blast killed two of Blankenship’s dogs, burned his truck and created a thick plume of smoke that could be seen for miles around.
According to information posted online by Blankenship’s family, the explosion happened shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday when Blankenship was performing routine maintenance on one of his wells. LaTara Brown said on Facebook that “a freak accident happened and the bottom of the tank blew.”
According to his family, Blankenship retained consciousness despite his burns and used his watch to contact family members. Blankenship’s father arrived on scene along with first responders and nearby workers who had rushed to the site.
The Thomas Tribune reported that the explosion burned about 30 acres. Fire departments from Thomas, Custer City, Oakwood, Greenfield, Weatherford and Hydro responded, along with EMS crews from Thomas and Watonga, Blaine and Custer County sheriff’s deputies, Blaine County Emergency Management, and representatives of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
Blankenship was airlifted to Oklahoma City after the blast. He suffered burns to his face, neck, shoulders and hands. Doctors later estimated that Blankenship was burned on about 16% to 20% of his body, his family said.
The Blankenship family said on Facebook that Rowdy entered surgery on Tuesday and received skin grafts on his back, neck, legs, hands and face.
The family has established a GoFundMe page to help with Blankenship’s medical expenses. As of Tuesday morning, the family had raised nearly $10,000 on more than 100 separate donations.
For those looking for other ways to help, the family is also accepting donations under the “Rowdy Blankenship Medical Fund” at all Bank7 (formerly Cornerstone Bank) locations.
On Monday, Jan. 24, another tank battery exploded near Okarche and injured two workers. The pad was owned by Devon Energy; Devon told the Associated Press that the cause of the explosion is under investigation.