The State - News from Sept. 9, 1988

An oil well and two tanks containing at least 900 gallons of crude oil erupted in flames, seriously burning one worker and threatening to spread to nine other tanks, officials said. The fire broke out about five miles northeast of Fillmore, Ventura County fire officials said. One worker suffered burns over about half his body and was flown by helicopter to Ventura County Medical Center, officials said. Information on his condition was not released. The fire was in an area with a large number of oil wells and tanks along the edge of Los Padres National Forest, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The name of the company that owns the well and the tanks was not immediately available. Officials, however, said the company was sending its own fire crews to help put out the flames.