Lawsuit Filed Against Valero Refinery After Ardmore Explosion Kills 1, Injures 4

Zehl & Associates sues Valero over fatal incident, citing safety regulation failures.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A Houston-based law firm, Zehl & Associates, has filed a lawsuit against the Valero refinery in Ardmore, Oklahoma, following a deadly explosion on February 9 that killed one contractor and injured four others. The lawsuit alleges that the incident, which claimed the life of Kirbyville native Jesse Cole Biscamp, could have been prevented if proper safety protocols had been followed at the highly regulated plant.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of strict safety regulations and oversight in the operation of hazardous industrial facilities like oil refineries. The lawsuit aims to uncover what went wrong and ensure similar tragedies are prevented in the future.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the explosion occurred when a contractor was pressure washing an exchanger filled with flammable hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons came into contact with nearby high-heat equipment, causing a fire and explosion. One of the injured contractors, a client of Zehl & Associates, attempted to rescue Biscamp from the flames but was unable to save him. The law firm is now calling for a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the incident and identify any failures in the refinery's safety systems.

  • The explosion occurred on February 9, 2026.
  • Biscamp died days later from his severe injuries.

The players

Zehl & Associates

A Houston-based law firm that is filing a lawsuit against the Valero refinery in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Valero

The oil refinery in Ardmore, Oklahoma where the deadly explosion took place.

Jesse Cole Biscamp

A Kirbyville native who was killed in the explosion at the Valero refinery.

Ryan Zehl

An attorney at Zehl & Associates who is representing the injured contractor and speaking out about the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“These catastrophes, and that's what we have here, shouldn't happen in the first place. Plants and refineries are highly regulated, both by state and federal law. They actually operate under OSHA's process safety management system. There are redundancies and safeguards in place to ensure that incidents like this one, where somebody tragically dies and others are severely injured, don't happen.”

— Ryan Zehl, Attorney, Zehl & Associates (12newsnow.com)

“Our client was nearby in what's called the sulfur recovery unit. He saw the fire and rushed in to try to help. He grabbed Mr. Biscamp, who tragically has since passed from his injuries and was trying to get him out of harm's way, out of that crude unit, and to safety.”

— Ryan Zehl, Attorney, Zehl & Associates (12newsnow.com)

What’s next

Zehl & Associates plans to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the explosion and identify any failures in the refinery's safety systems. The law firm will work with a team of experts to recreate the incident and prevent similar catastrophic events in the future.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the critical importance of strict safety protocols and oversight in the operation of hazardous industrial facilities. The lawsuit aims to hold the Valero refinery accountable and drive improvements that can save lives and prevent future disasters.