Story/Photos By
Michael Watiker
Res4cuE 4 photos
A pickup-truck driver struck a gas line, sparking an apartment fire on the north side of the City of Columbus, OH late Sunday afternoon December 16.
"It shook the whole house,'' said Terry Harmon of the 5 p.m. crash into her apartment at 2872 Howey Rd.
Harmon said she witnessed a pickup loose control in an alley south of the brick building and slammed into the side. The collision smashed a natural gas manifold with four meters attached to it.
Several adult and children ran out of their apartments unharmed.
Intense, gas-fed flames shot up into the roof, burning the four unit apartments quickly, said Capt. James Cannell (acting Batt 3/1 unit)
Firefighters from the Columbus, OH Division of Fire were forced to fight the fire on two fronts. While one engine company used a fog stream to keep the gas fire contained in the rear, other fire personnel were engaged in fire attack and overhaul inside.
Firefighters plugged the gas lines temporarily before they contained the blaze at 5:30 p.m. Columbia Gas workers later arrived to shut off underground pipes.
Investigators said they think a license plate found in the alley belongs to the driver.
Columbus Police and the Columbus Fire Division Arson
Squad were investigating.
No one was injured in the blaze, said Fire Capt. Jim Cannell. A dog, which had been trapped inside, was found unharmed and a cat was missing.
Damage was estimated at $35,000. Three apartments are no longer habitable, with the worst damage to Harmon's apartment. A fourth apartment is vacant. Eight tenants stayed with relatives or friends after the fire.
