Possible Explosion Shuts Down PNM SJGS Unit 1, No Injuries

Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 7:45 PM

There were no injuries and all staff were accounted for. San Juan County Fire Department districts one (1) and four (4) responded, along with County Fire staff, Farmington Fire, Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management staff and Tactical Dispatchers from San Juan County Communications Authority.

Update from PNM on 3/20/18:

On Saturday, March 17, there was a structural failure in a coal silo that serves Unit 1 at the San Juan Generating Station. The failure caused a fire that resulted in some damage, limited to the site around the silo.

No injuries were caused by the incident.

The cause is under investigation. Unit 1 will remain off line until all assessments and repairs are complete.

Unit 4 is operating normally and this incident has not affected our ability to serve our customers.

From PNM spokesman Raymond Sandoval on 3/18/18:

Unit 1 (where the incident happened) has been shut down, and Unit 4 is currently running normally. Unit 4 is able to handle to power generation needs at the moment. The original report was of an explosion, but investigators are working to determine what happened.

From San Juan County on 3/18/18:

At approximately 5:47 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2018 a possible explosion occurred at the San Juan Generating Station operated by PNM near Farmington, New Mexico. There were no injuries and all staff were accounted for. San Juan County Fire Department districts one (1) and four (4) responded, along with County Fire staff, Farmington Fire, Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management staff and Tactical Dispatchers from San Juan County Communications Authority. No fire suppression was necessary, but fire and emergency management staff remained on site to provide monitoring, rescue back up and support for PNM staff if needed. No root cause has been determined. Planning efforts are underway to complete an investigation into the cause. The power generation plant remains on line. Information will be updated as available.

More from Local News

Judge: SunRay Can't Move Horse Racing & Casino to Clovis

In February, San Juan County Commissioners voted to seek judicial review of the New Mexico Racing Commission’s decision to authorize Western Gaming to move its racing license to Clovis, NM. The Racing Commission’s decision, at the request of Western Gaming, would have ended San Juan County’s long heritage of horse racing at a county-owned facility.
NM Rep. Joseph Hernandez Ends Re-Election Campaign

In his statement, Hernandez says, "At this time, I believe the best decision for me and those I love is to focus on my health and my family, while continuing to serve the community that entrusted me with this office through the remainder of my term."
Suspect Arrested after Sexual Assault

During the investigation, officers learned that a male and female who knew each other had been in the area of the disc golf course. Neither individual was a student or staff member of San Juan College. The female victim reported that an altercation occurred between her and the male, Tyson Saggboy. She reported that Saggboy battered her, removed her clothing, and strangled her before fleeing the scene.
Ground Broken for new STEAM Education Building at Navajo Prep

The new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Facility will provide expanded space for Navajo Prep’s International Baccalaureate program and career-focused pathways.
Farmington Man Sentenced on Child Porn Conviction

Earlier this week, Jacob Marriott was sentenced after pleading guilty to 4 counts of Manufacturing of Child Pornography (2nd Degree Felony), 1 count of Possession of Child Pornography (4th Degree Felony), and 2 counts of Voyeurism of a Child Under 18 (3rd Degree Felony).
2026 NM Primary Local (Unofficial) Results

We'll be updating this page with results throughout the evening on Tuesday, June 2, 2026: These are the unofficial results of the contested NM Primary races in San Juan County on June 2, 2026: