Updated: Monday, 2:44 p.m.
Two Westar Energy employees who worked at Jeffrey Energy Center in Pottawatomie County died from injuries suffered there over the weekend, according to media reports.
Monday afternoon, Westar said Jesse Henson of Manhattan and Craig Burchett of Overbrook — both operations supervisors — were critically injured when a piece of equipment with high pressure steam behind it failed.
According to a press release from Westar Sunday, the employees were injured at Jeffrey Energy Center at about 11:30 a.m. that morning. They were transported by helicopter to the University of Kansas Medical Center, where they were treated for severe burns.
“Our Westar employees work very closely together and form strong bonds,” said John Bridson, Westar’s senior vice president of generation. “All of us who worked with Craig and Jesse are grieving and thinking of their families as we cope with this loss.”
Jeffery Energy Center, north of St. Marys, is Westar’s largest power plant with three generating units, according to the company. All three units are shut down while the full circumstances of the incident are reviewed. Westar says it will resume operations at the plant when it can safely do so.
