ALBUQUERQUE - Two explosions followed by fire rocked a gasoline refinery Thursday, seriously injuring four people, officials said.

Smoke billowed from one side of the Giant Industries refinery about 15 miles east of Gallup in western New Mexico as rescue crews converged on the scene.



The fire was quickly contained, but white smoke continued to escape the refinery's lattice of pipes and equipment, now blackened from the fire. Firefighters sprayed water to cool it down as small flames flickered amid the wreckage.



Gallup Fire Chief Louie Chavez said the fire triggered the refinery's massive water guns, which helped quell the flames.

The injured were taken to hospitals in Gallup and Albuquerque, about 140 miles to the east. Two were listed in critical condition, a third in serious condition, and the fourth was in satisfactory condition.



Nearby Interstate 40 remained open, but authorities were discouraging travel in the area.

In a release from the Scottsdale-based company, Giant officials acknowledged that a fire occurred but made no mention of explosions.

"Our understanding is that there was a fire. There may have been an explosion before the fire," company spokesman Mark Cox said.

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