Artesia police responded to an explosion at the HF Sinclair Navajo Refinery on Friday. They say the situation is now under control and people are free to walk outside.
A spokesperson for the refinery says three people were taken by first responders for โmedical attention,โ but no other injuries were reported. No further details were provided about the injuries of those three people.
Earlier in the day, thick smoke was seen coming from the plant and drifting over parts of the city. Police were urging people to shelter indoors if they were in the path of the smoke, and to keep windows and doors closed. Artesia police say it is now safe for people to come out of their homes.
Police say the fire has been successfully extinguished by the emergency response teams, and that all city and county emergency services have cleared the area.
Highways and surrounding roads are reported to be open again for travel, though some roads had to be closed off earlier to serve as landing zones for medevacs.
