The City of Guthrie on Wednesday honored Benn Andrew Stahl, who was severely burned while trying to render aid during an industrial explosion in January that killed two people.
Stahl is a Trenton volunteer firefighter and the water superintendent for the cities of Guthrie and Trenton. He was eating at the American Café just across the street from Quick Turn Anodizing and went to the scene when he saw the initial smoke coming from a vacuum truck waste hauler.
When the explosion occurred, Stahl suffered second and third degree burns to his face and upper chest area, in addition to serious chemical burns to his mouth, eyes and esophagus. He was admitted at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center burn unit and released after several days.
The explosion killed two men—the driver of the truck and an employee inside the building—and injured two other men in addition to Stahl.
On Wednesday, Guthrie Police Chief Dean Blumel presented Stahl with an Award of Valor and Kentucky Colonel certificate for stepping in to help at a dangerous scene when he didn’t have to do it.
Guthrie Mayor Jimmy Covington and several city council members were at the Guthrie Senior Center to help honor Stahl.
Chief Blumel also gave thanks to all of the first responders and citizens who helped in the hours and days following the explosion.
