JUNCTION CITY, Ky. - A massive fireball lit up the early morning sky in Lincoln County, Kentucky after a gas pipeline ruptured. One person is dead, five others were injured, and nearby residents at a trailer park were evacuated. People originally thought to be missing after the blast have been accounted for.
The rupture involved the Texas Eastern Transmission Pipeline, which is owned and operated by the Canadian company, Enbridge. The 30-inch wide pipeline moves natural gas under high pressure. Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Don Gilliam said flames shot 300 feet in the air and caused an enormous amount of damage in the immediate area. Hours after the explosion, firefighters were working to put out the flames. The area is so remote the trucks had to keep refilling their tanks and returning to try to put out the fire.
The woman killed was taken to the medical examiner's office in Frankfort to officially determine her cause of death. She has been identified as 58-year-old Lisa Derringer of Stanford. Trooper Purdy says it appears she may have left her over because of the fire and was overcome by heat.
Kentucky State Trooper spokesman Robert Purdy said at least five homes were destroyed and other structures within 500 yards of the blast suffered damage. The fire was so intense it scorched the ground, burning trees and grass and leaving behind dirt, rocks, and gravel.
There was also a story of heroism on Thursday. Trooper Purdy told Spectrum News 1 that the first Lincoln County Deputy to arrive on the scene pushed through heat, that he could feel through his windshield, to help an elderly man escaping a home. The man refused to leave without his wife, so the deputy risked his own life to go back and find her. All three are recovering from non life-threatening injuries.
The Texas Eastern Pipeline is 9,000 miles and runs from the Mexican border to New York City.
Enbridge released a statement saying, "Enbridge is aware of and is responding to a rupture on the Texas Eastern system in Lincoln County, Kentucky. Our first concern is for those impacted by this event and ensuring the safety of the community. Our teams are coordinating with first responders to secure the site. We have isolated the affected line and are working closely with emergency responders to manage the situation. We will provide more information as it becomes available."
A company spokesman says two other nearby gas lines were not affected, but will be inspected. Right now, there doesn't seem to be any indication as to what caused the rupture.
The explosion also damaged railroad tracks forcing more than 30 trains to back up overnight. 75 people from a nearby trailer park were evacuated and sent to a nearby church. Emergency management says trailers are either damaged and still standing or destroyed. Gilliam says there is no in-between. Residents whose homes are standing should be able to return later Thursday.
Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell addressed the pipeline explosion on the Senate floor. “Obviously the investigation is just beginning. My staff and I will continue to stay on top of this and be a resource for everyone affected. This morning, our prayers are with all the families whom this disaster has touched, and our gratitude is with all the first responders who rushed toward towering flames to protect their neighbors and communities.”
Several agencies are investigating what caused the explosion. The National Transportation Safety Board is also sending investigators to the site.