Two people died in an industrial accident from a pipeline fire at an oilfield near U.S. Highway 176 and Bootleg Road, the Lea County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies got the call around 1:04 p.m. on October 6 and found both of them dead when they arrived.
Crews from Eunice Fire, Jal Fire, and the Lea County Office of Emergency Management joined the response.
Officials say this was an isolated incident with no sign of any ongoing threat to the public.They haven’t released the names of the two people who died.
The Lea County Sheriff’s Office released no further information, citing the active and ongoing investigation.
Authorities said the situation remained confined to the area immediately surrounding the pipeline. No evacuations were ordered, and there were no reports of damage to structures. The investigation remains ongoing.
The incident occurred the same day in San Juan County, in northwestern New Mexico near the Colorado border that sparked a wildfire. But no deaths were reported. Officials said it was unrelated to the Lea County incident.
