Gas explosion causes massive fire in Sissonville {West Virginia}

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Wed Dec 12, 2012, 10:16 AM - Edit history (3)

Source: Charleston Gazette

SISSONVILLE, W.Va. -- An explosion and massive gas line fire in Sissonville has closed Interstate 77 northbound and southbound at the Tuppers Creek exit this afternoon.

Just before 1 p.m., the fire was said to have crossed the interstate itself. A photo taken by Kanawha County Emergency Services shows stories-tall flames covering both northbound and southbound lanes of the interstate.

Metro 911 reported several buildings on fire. Crews apparently extinguished the fire just before 2 p.m. but a large amount of fumes remained in the air, said Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper.

Kanawha County Fire Coordinator C.W. Sigman said a 20-inch gas transmission line ruptured, sending a massive sheet of flames shooting skyward.

Read more: http://wvgazette.com/News/201212110065

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Scanner feed: Kanawha County Sheriff, Fire, EMS and Municipal Cities, WV State Police Live Audio Feed

ETA: It made Jalopnik too

An Incredibly Massive Explosion Set The Highway On Fire In West Virginia {UPDATE: FIRE EXTINGUISHED}
http://jalopnik.com/5967574/an-incredibly-massive-explosion-has-set-the-highway-on-fire-in-west-virginia

[peacebird]

1. Any word on the folks who lived there? Hoping they were at work when this thing blew.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

2. My hometown

Miraculously, no one was killed, but several lost homes.

[hunter]

3. Caused by terrorists, no doubt...

... the sort who award themselves million dollar bonuses as the basic physical and social infrastructure required to safely maintain things like high pressure gas pipelines or highway bridges rots away.

[liberal N proud]

4. Sounds like I77 will be down for a while