Fire-Rescue News- North Texas Gas Explosion Kills 3
DALLAS - A gas line explosion in North Texas that sent enormous flames and plumes of smoke into the sky has killed at least three people.
The blast erupted at about 3 p.m. at 2101 County Road 1120 in Hood County, near Highway 67, south of Fort Worth....Continue Reading & View More Video
An electric company crew drilling holes for power lines accidentally hit a 36-inch gas line owned by Enterprise Products Partners L.P., sparking the explosion, according to the Johnson County Sheriff's Department..
At least three men from the eight-person crew were killed.
The blaze consisted of flames hundreds of feet high and could be seen from at least 30 miles away. Additionally, Sky 4 helicopter pilot Mike Warner said it was so intense he could feel the heat from nearly a mile away.
The force of the blast and resulting burn also generated spinning spirals of smoke resembling funnel clouds, often called dust devils. (Scroll down to watch embedded video.)
Area residents report hearing a loud explosion or series of explosions. They also said they felt the earth rumble and their homes shake for several minutes.
Tracy Mann heard the ruckus and said she initially thought a summer storm was brewing. But the situation quickly turned into something Mann knew was unusual.
"Boy that has really lasted a long time for some thunder," Mann said. "All of our windows were shaking."
A brushfire sparked by the explosion consumed about 30 acres surrounding the blast site, Warner said.
All fire departments from Johnson, Hood and Somervell counties responded to the disaster.
Several air ambulance helicopters were dispatched to the scene.
The gas ball fire was extinguished by about 5 p.m.
