June 24--A La Crosse tree caught on fire Sunday morning after lightning ruptured an underground gas line.
The La Crosse Fire Department was dispatched to a tree fire at 2:37 a.m. on the northeast corner of Ninth and Ferry streets where they found a mature tree burning with flames over 50-feet in the air, according to a report.
Fire Division Chief Mark Amann said the fire was believed to be caused by lightning, which ruptured a nearby gas line.
Firefighters cooled the tree and surrounding area until Xcel Energy crew located and clamped off the 2-inch gas lines around 5:30 a.m., according to a report. The natural gas line was fed from two directions, both more than 3 feet underground.
Amann said firefighters controlled the fire instead of putting it out because "it's safer and more controlled if that initial gas is contained."
"If we totally put the fire out initially when we get there, the gas is still leaking," he said. "The safest thing for our protocols to do is to control the fire so it doesn't spread."
Copyright 2013 - La Crosse Tribune, Wis.
