Governor Scott Walker toured the Husky Energy refinery site in Superior, Wisconsin on Monday after an explosion last week left more than a dozen people hurt and prompted evacuations.
According to our NBC affiliate in Duluth, 12 of the 13 people who were in the hospital have been released. One person reportedly has serious injuries.
“Anytime you have something as catastrophic as this explosion was and the fire associated with it, when you don't have the loss of life, that in itself, is an incredible success,” said Gov. Scott Walker. “So everything can be cleaned up, everything else can be fixed, everything else can be accommodated, but you can't bring someone back.”
The fire sent thick, black smoke into the air and caused evacuations for Superior.
Right now, company leaders say the focus is on the investigation.
“Once they're satisfied that they have the evidence and information needed to make a proper assessment of what happened then we will be allowed to start cleaning the area up and going to work, repairing what's damaged,” said Collin Schade, Refinery Manager for Husky.
Company leaders also add that they're monitoring air, water and soil around the refinery through a third party. Results will be sent to the county and state.
The EPA says there were particles left in the air, which contained carcinogens, but they have not said what those carcinogens were, saying only that it was still within safe levels.
There is not a time frame for the refinery to be up and running again, but leaders say it will take "some time".
