How many people died when oil from the first flowing well caught fire?

How many people died when oil from the first flowing well caught fire?

• A. 12
• B. 19
• C. 25
• D. 7

Answer: (B)

This question tests knowledge of a historical hazard in early oil drilling and the specific fatality count of a famous fire. When oil first flowed from the pioneering well, it was highly flammable and fires could erupt quickly on the scene as crews tried to manage the gush. The historical record for that incident states that nineteen people died when the oil caught fire. That figure is why the correct answer is the number nineteen. Other counts belong to different events or are not the documented fatalities for this particular fire, so they don’t fit this specific historical incident.

This question tests knowledge of a historical hazard in early oil drilling and the specific fatality count of a famous fire. When oil first flowed from the pioneering well, it was highly flammable and fires could erupt quickly on the scene as crews tried to manage the gush. The historical record for that incident states that nineteen people died when the oil caught fire. That figure is why the correct answer is the number nineteen. Other counts belong to different events or are not the documented fatalities for this particular fire, so they don’t fit this specific historical incident.