As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.

Where were you on April 26, 1986? Do you remember? On this seemingly innocent day near the former USSR city of Pripyat, the worst nuclear disaster in the history of the world occurred due to a botched nuclear reactor safety test at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Since HBO’s acclaimed mini-series of the same name has brought this crisis back to the forefront of our memory, we were curious if Colorado had experienced any energy-related disasters of its own. Come to find out, it has.

Since its founding in 1909, Xcel Energy has been a sole provider of gas and electric throughout Colorado via more than a dozen different power plants throughout the state.
Flickr/Tony Webster
One of these 14 Colorado plants is that of Cabin Creek; a 324-megawatt, water-generated plant that is located near Georgetown. According to Xcel Energy, the plant boasts such environmental highlights as using water as a clean, renewable resource.
Built in 1967, the Cabin Creek plant managed to remain (seemingly) safe and relatively low-key until October 2, 2007, when a flash fire ignited in a penstock (underground tunnel) where maintenance and updates were taking place.
Google/Nicholas Rivera

Related Stories

Stay The Night At This Secluded Colorado Hut Before Word Gets Out

Stay The Night At This Secluded Colorado Hut Before Word Gets Out

 There's A Bed and Breakfast On This Llama Farm In Colorado And You Simply Have To Visit

There's A Bed and Breakfast On This Llama Farm In Colorado And You Simply Have To Visit

 You Can Stay The Night With Kangaroos At The Zoo Chateau In Colorado

You Can Stay The Night With Kangaroos At The Zoo Chateau In Colorado
At this time, nine workers were either inside or around the tunnel while it was sprayed with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK); a highly flammable chemical used to clean the penstock.
Google Maps
After the explosion, five contract workers found themselves trapped by the fire, and despite efforts by both their fellow workers (who ran to retrieve fire extinguishers) and local firefighters (who were not aware of the severity of the situation until arriving at the location), were killed inside the tunnel.
Google Maps
Unlike Chernobyl, the Xcel Energy Cabin Creek Fire did not have a catastrophic effect on the environment; however, like the tragedy in the USSR, the incident occurred due to both shoddy work and cost-cutting, particularly by the controversial company hired to do the job.
Xcel had hired California-based RPI Coating to do the repairs, despite the contractor having terrible reviews and more than $100,000 in fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Flickr/Tony Webster
After an investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, it was determined that Xcel Energy was not guilty in the deaths of the five contract workers; however, RPI Coating - which had a long history of citations on both local and federal levels - was, leading to a $1.55 million settlement.

During the investigation, it was also revealed that Xcel was aware of the unsafe working conditions and that RPI may have destroyed evidence from the site to cover up their negligence.

Needless to say, the environmental impact of the Cabin Creek Fire was nothing like Chernobyl but the unnecessary loss of life was no less tragic. This is not the first time in Colorado where lives were senselessly lost, as demonstrated by The Tiny Town In Colorado With A Terribly Creepy Past.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Colorado