Report

Subject:                     Pipeline explosion shakes Caldwell County

Date of Email report:   Fri 29/08/2008

Report Detail:

A pipeline explosion shook Caldwell County at about 7:30 a.m Thursday near Stairtown, according to Caldwell County officials. Stairtown is located just west of Luling at F.M. 671. A 36-inch natural gas line exploded and officials said the blast sent flames hundreds of feet into the air.  Energy Transfer Company said the pipeline is used to transport gas from West Texas to Katy, Texas. "It was approximately 10 miles of pipeline that was isolated that was involved with the release of gas,"
Danny Nichols with Energy Transfer Company said. Almost 40 people dialed 911 and reported that they felt or heard the explosion, which prompted crews instantly.  The fuel to the natural gas pipeline was shut off and officials are monitoring it to make sure the valves continue to hold.

Work continued throughout the afternoon to repair the section of pipe that burst. There were homes as close as three-quarters of a mile away. Superintendent Jesse Lopez III of Prairie Lee Independent School District said the blast happened on a line going away from the refinery.

Those within a half-mile radius of the explosion were evacuated. The plant is about two miles away from the local school. When firefighters arrived at the scene they couldn't believe how big the fire was. "We could see it from 183 … it was a column of fire roughly 300 to 400 feet in the air and it was visible from about 6 to 7 miles away," Asst. Chief with McMahan Fire Department Chuck Cutshall said.  Investigators continue working to figure out the cause of the explosion.