The family of a Texas worker who died following a refinery fire in Oklahoma has filed an expanded wrongful death lawsuit against Valero Energy Corp. and his employer, UPS Industrial Services LLC, alleging that serious safety breakdowns led to the fatal incident.

The case arises from a fire earlier this month at Valero’s refinery in Ardmore, Oklahoma, located just north of the Texas state line. According to the petition filed in Harris County, Texas, Jesse Biscamp was performing maintenance work at the facility when a sudden blaze erupted, inflicting catastrophic injuries. He died two days later from those injuries.

Biscamp was employed by UPS Industrial Services, a contractor working at the refinery. His widow, minor child and parents have brought the suit seeking damages for wrongful death, including compensation for physical pain, mental anguish, loss of companionship, and funeral and medical expenses. The lawsuit names Valero Energy Corp., Valero Refining-Texas LP and UPS Industrial Services as defendants.

The family’s attorney has stated that the maintenance crew was assigned to work on a vessel that had reportedly been cleaned prior to the job. However, the complaint alleges that flammable material remained inside the equipment, raising questions about whether proper safety checks and hazard assessments were conducted before work began.

According to the filing, Valero failed to maintain a reasonably safe workplace and did not comply with safety obligations, including those governed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The petition asserts that inadequate safety protocols, inspection procedures and oversight contributed to the conditions that led to the fire.

The claims against UPS Industrial Services go further, accusing the contractor of gross negligence. The family alleges the company did not properly warn workers about the presence of combustible materials, failed to hold sufficient safety meetings, and did not provide appropriate protective equipment or safeguards for the task being performed.

In addition to seeking financial damages, the plaintiffs have requested court intervention to preserve key evidence. They are asking that the equipment involved in the incident not be altered, dismantled or destroyed. The request also covers preservation of photographs, video footage, maintenance records, safety documentation and environmental monitoring data related to the fire. Court records indicate that a temporary restraining order has been granted, though specific details have not been made public.

The family is also requesting access to the refinery site to conduct inspections and document the scene as part of their investigation and case preparation.

Importantly, the lawsuit seeks exemplary damages. Under Texas law, workers’ compensation benefits are generally the exclusive remedy for on-the-job injuries. However, the petition invokes an exception that allows additional recovery when a death is caused by an employer’s intentional conduct or gross negligence. The family argues that the alleged safety failures rise to that level.

The refinery fire has reportedly resulted in additional legal actions from other workers who claim to have suffered injuries in the same incident, suggesting broader scrutiny of safety practices at the facility.

Representatives for the defendant companies have not publicly commented on the lawsuit.

The case is pending in the 127th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, and is expected to focus heavily on workplace safety procedures, hazard controls and compliance with industry regulations as litigation moves forward.