As you know, 6 Kirwin firefighters were injured (two critically) when a semitrailer with an acetylene gas welding cylinder and flammable liquids inside caught fire, then erupted in at least one large explosion Tuesday evening. The blast critically injured firefighters Rex Lowe and Chester Peak, who were airlifted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb.Four other Kirwin firefighters were taken to area hospitals and released after treatment, hospital officials said Wednesday.
Kirwin, population about 200 is served by a volunteer fire department consisting of a dozen or so firefighters.

Earlier in the day Tuesday, contractors had been using cutting torches to remove the old epoxy-sealed, wooden roof of the Kirwin water tower. The crew members had gone for the evening, leaving behind their truck, which was filled with equipment. Shortly after 7 p.m., firefighters received a report that the roof of the water tower was on fire, along with grass in the road ditch below and the back tire of the semitrailer, which was parked along the road at the base of the tower. The water tower is located about a half mile west of Kirwin. Rose Rozmiarek, chief investigator for the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office, said the fire is believed to have been accidental. Investigators believe debris from the burning water tower roof dropped down beside the truck, catching the back tires on fire. That fire built, as it set materials on the truck ablaze, she said.

Quickly extinguished, then ...
The tire and ditch fires were extinguished quickly. But as firefighters were standing just feet from the back of the trailer, considering how to tackle the fire on top of the water tower, the first explosion ripped through the trailer and injured the firefighters. A second blast also was said to have occurred.
 
Firefighter Chester Peak was hit by the back doors of the trailer as it exploded. Peak was airlifted to Kearney with head injuries and a broken arm. A hospital spokeswoman said Wednesday he remained in critical condition. Firefighter Rex Lowe was also airlifted to Kearney and remained in critical condition Wednesday.

Firefighter Justin Ehm was taken by ambulance to the Kearney hospital with an injured shoulder. He was treated and released. Firefighters Nate Roth and Dan Johnson were taken to Phillips County Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. And firefighter Justin Gibson was taken to Rooks County Health Center with injured hands.
 
2 apparatus from the Kirwin department were heavily damaged. One was blown about 150 feet down the hill from the blast. Both were Ford 1-ton chassis grass fire response units with small water tanks and pumps on board.