Ardmore Refinery Fire: Workers Deserve Answers

A fire at Valero’s Ardmore refinery on February 9, 2026 sent five workers to the hospital. One of those workers later died from his injuries. The incident remains under investigation, and lawsuits have already been filed raising serious safety concerns.

For working families along the Gulf Coast, this matters. Texas-based contractor networks and traveling refinery crews often move job to job across state lines, especially during maintenance and turnaround work.

Incident Details

• Date: February 9, 2026

• Time: Reported around 5:15 p.m. (local)

• Location: Valero Ardmore Refinery, Ardmore, Oklahoma

• Incident Type: Refinery fire (some reports also describe an explosion and fire)

• Injuries: Five workers transported to the hospital

• Fatalities: 1 (Jesse Cole Biscamp, reported)

• Companies Mentioned in Reporting: Valero; UPS Industrial Services (contractor employer referenced)

• Status: Cause reported as under investigation; OSHA investigation referenced in coverage

• Legal Action: Multiple lawsuits reported

Incident Report

On the evening of February 9, a fire broke out at the Valero refinery in Ardmore. Reporting states five people were transported for medical evaluation and treatment. In the days that followed, one worker, Jesse Cole Biscamp of Kirbyville, Texas, was reported to have died from injuries related to the incident.

Lawsuits filed after the fire describe severe burn injuries among survivors and allege safety failures connected to maintenance work. Those claims have not been proven in court. What is already clear is this: when refinery maintenance goes wrong, frontline workers and contractors often suffer the worst harm.

Why This Matters to Greater Houston

Many refinery workers from Pasadena, Baytown, Deer Park, and southeast Houston travel for turnaround jobs. When a refinery fire happens in another state, it can still involve Texas workers, Texas contractors, and Texas courts. The risk travels with the work.

If You Were Injured, Protect Your Health and the Facts

• Get medical care first. Burns and inhalation injuries can worsen fast.

• Write everything down. Task, location, supervisor names, witness names, and timeline.

• Save evidence. PPE, clothing, photos, texts, call logs, and job paperwork.

• Be cautious with recorded statements. Do not guess, especially while medicated.

• Get trusted guidance. Contractor incidents can involve multiple responsible parties.

Key Takeaways

• The Ardmore refinery fire hospitalized five workers on February 9, 2026.

• One worker later died from injuries, according to reporting.

• Maintenance and turnarounds remain high-risk periods in refinery operations.

• Lawsuits and investigations may reveal what failed and who had control of safety measures.

• Workers and families deserve transparency, accountability, and prevention.

Sources

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/valero-ardmore-refinery-fire-results-one-death-kxii-reports-2026-02-13/
https://www.ardmoreite.com/fire-reported-at-valero-ardmore-refinery/
https://www.kxii.com/2026/02/19/multiple-lawsuits-filed-after-fatal-refinery-fire-ardmore-what-we-know-so-far/
https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/valero-energy-refinery-explosion-lawsuits-21942901.php