WTRF 7 NewsBROOKE COUNTY, W.Va. –
UPDATE 10:00 a.m. Jan. 27
The cause of a gas line explosion in Brooke County remains under investigation.
Enterprise Products, L.P., released firefighters around 4:30 p.m. Jan. 26, but many were told to remain on standby for hours.
Authorities shut off power in the area of Arch Hill Road in Colliers, WV, with some residents receiving their power through a substation.
Follansbee Fire Chief Larry Rea said the weather helped the fire from becoming more of a problem.
Enterprise Products, L.P., said they are working with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to determine the cause of the explosion. The company said in a statement that they did notice a pressure drop earlier in the day prior to the explosion.
The gas line will not be in operation again until PHMSA gives their approval.
UPDATE 7:00 p.m.:
The Enterprise Products, L.P., who owns the line said the incident is under investigation.
UPDATE 4:45 p.m.:
Firefighters and emergency responders were placed on stand-by as they wait for a fire caused by a gas pipeline explosion to burn out in Brooke County.The gas pipeline, owned by The Enterprise Products, L.P. based in Houston, TX, erupted about 10:30 a.m. sending flames hundreds of feet into the air.
Residents living on both sides of the river said they could see the massive fireball.
The explosion caused Archer Hill Road in Colliers to be shut down for hours, with only first responders allowed near the fire.
A camera crew was able to see the fireball first hand thanks to a neighbor who drove them out on his ATV near the explosion site. They remained a safe distance, but even from there they said they could smell gaseous fumes, feel the heat and hear the roar of the flames .
Follansbee Fire Chief Larry Rea said the fire is contained, but all crews can do is standby until the fire burns itself out. Rea said they did manage to shut off three valves to the pipeline.
Fortunately, only one home had to be evacuated and no injuries or structural damage was reported.
A call was placed to Enterprise Products, L.P., but was not immediately returned.
UPDATE 2:45 p.m.:
Authorities said they were able to contain the fire from a gas line explosion that took place in the morning hours of Monday, Jan. 26 in Brooke County.
Follansbee Fire Chief Larry Rea said the department was able to close three valves, but the fire was still burning as of 2:45 p.m. Rea said the fire department is waiting until the fire burns itself out. He said firefighters will remain at the scene until the pipeline is shut down.
A house located near the explosion was evacuated as a precaution, but no injuries or structure damage were reported.
Officials said the pipeline is owned by Enterprise Products Partners L.P. of Houston, TX. Calls placed to the company were not immediately returned.
ORIGINAL STORY
Emergency crews from several different agencies responded to an apparent gas line explosion Jan. 26 in Brooke County.
A number of residents have said they saw what appeared to be a large fireball burning in the sky.
Brooke County Sheriff Chuck Jackson said the explosion is near the former riding stables on Archer Hill Road in Colliers, WV. Jackson said no injuries have been reported and no structural damage has occurred, but several area roads have been closed because of burning gas.
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