NATCHEZ — Three Natchez workers were injured, one severely burned, when an Amite County natural gas well caught fire Wednesday morning.

The three employees of Natchez company Black Jack Oil were working on an oil well, relieving pressure, when the gas ignited, company owner Kevin Wilson said.

Wilson would not identify the three men but said they were taken to a hospital in McComb.

“Two are fine — they were released today,” Wilson said. “I’ve got a man in bad shape. One has been transported to a burn center in Augusta, Ga. He’s stable, they think he’s going to be OK, but with burns, you never know.”

One man sustained severe burns to the face, head, stomach, arms and back, according to the Associated Press. The other two were burned on both arms.

Wilson said he did not know what sparked the fire at the oil well, near Liberty.

“They’re not sure of the ignition source,” he said.

“The fire burned for two or three seconds. It was hot and fast. It was out quick, but the damage had already been done.”

The explosion occurred at Parker No. 1 oil well just west of the Pike County line, about a mile north of Mississippi 24, according to the Associated Press. It is owned by Red Sand Energy, LLC, of McComb.

A flash fire like that is an uncommon occurrence, Wilson said.

“It’s a dangerous job, but that rarely happens,” he said. I’ve never seen it happen.”

Wilson said he asked his employees not to comment on the situation because of potential liabilities.

“It was just a freak accident,” Wilson said. “We didn’t do anything wrong,” he said.

Amite County Civil Defense Director Sam Walsh could not be reached Wednesday.