Two burned, others unaccounted for after explosion, subsequent fire in Clearwater County
A gas station explosion and fire Wednesday in the North Idaho town of Cardiff left two people severely injured and others unaccounted for. Clearwater County Sheriff's Office
Two people were severely burned, and others are unaccounted for after an explosion and subsequent fire Wednesday afternoon destroyed a gas station along Idaho 11 in Clearwater County.
According to the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office, first responders were dispatched to Cardiff a little after 3 p.m. Wednesday.
A video of the fire posted on the LC Valley News Facebook page shows the gas station fully engulfed in flames and other nearby structures burning.
Two people were taken from the scene via Life Flight helicopter, according to the sheriff’s office news release.
“At this time, we believe there are more victims still inside the structure,” according to the news release, distributed at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. “The fire is still burning and unknown when it will be extinguished.”
The Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho State Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of the explosion and fire.
The agencies that responded included the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office, Pierce Fire Department, Weippe Fire Department, Grangemont Fire Department, Orofino Fire Department, CPTPA, Orofino Ambulance, Pierce Ambulance, Weippe Ambulance, Life Flight and the Idaho State Fire Marshal.
Idaho 11 is closed between its intersection with the Grangemont Road and Headquarters, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.
Cardiff is an unincorporated town located about 8 miles north of Pierce.