Evacuation order lifted for Superior, Wis. after oil refinery explosion

SUPERIOR, Wis. (KMSP) - At 6 a.m., the Mayor Jim Paine lifted the evacuation order for Superior, Wisconsin following Thursday's explosion at the Husky Energy oil refinery. 

"All indications are that the refinery site is safe adn stable and the air quality is clean and normal. Welcome home," the mayor said in a Facebook post. 

The explosion was reported shortly after 10 a.m. The cause of the blast remains under investigation. 

At least 11 people were hurt, one with serious blast injuries, but no one was killed. All of the company's 165 employees and several contractors who were inside the plant have all been accounted for

The city declared a state of emergency following the explosion and ordered an mandatory evacuation for a three-mile radius around the refinery, as well as 10 miles to the south. Despite the fire at the site being under control, the evacuation order remained in effect overnight as a "precautionary measure." 

Across the harbor, Duluth, Minnesota Mayor Emily Larson had issued a shelter in place advisement for the city. It was lifted shortly after 6 a.m. 

"Superior and Mayor Paine, our doors are open as needed," Larson said in a Facebook post. "We know you'd do the same. Thank you, amazing Twin Ports, for working together to get through yesterday and last night." 

The facility, Wisconsin’s only oil refinery, was bought by Husky Energy last year from Indianapolis-based Calumet Specialty Products Partners. After Thursday's explosion, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it was opening an investigation into the company's safety practices, the second time the agency has looked ino the refinery in three years.