Ga. Man Badly Burned by Gas Line Blast

MILTON, Ga. -- A Georgia Power worker was injured Thursday afternoon when crews struck a gas line, causing an explosion. Milton Police Capt. Shawn McCarty said the fire started when a Georgia Power crew was replacing a power line pole north of Dorris Road. At 1:31 p.m. the drill used to dig a new hole hit a gas line, sparking an explosion.

July 16, 2010

3 min read

MILTON, Ga. --

A Georgia Power worker was injured Thursday afternoon when crews struck a gas line, causing an explosion.

Milton Police Capt. Shawn McCarty said the fire started when a Georgia Power crew was replacing a power line pole north of Dorris Road. At 1:31 p.m. the drill used to dig a new hole hit a gas line, sparking an explosion.

A Georgia Power worker at the site was caught in the explosion and jumped some 30 feet from a work truck's bucket to escape the flames. He sustained burns over 80 percent of his body and was flown by helicopter to Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital.

His choices were to jump or to die by fire, he chose to jump, said McCarty.

Milton and Alpharetta fire units fought the blaze until shortly before 4 p.m., when the gas line was capped and the flames died out.

Neighbors said they could hear the explosion, and then the power went out.

Lawrence Mulkey came out to see what happened and was shocked by the scene.

The flames were up over the tree tops. Really sad. I know that man in the bucket was tormented. That's awfully sad. He needs our prayers that's for sure.

11-year-old Emanuel Green was home alone when the power went out.

It was scary. I didn't know what happened or what was going on and I was alone in the house.

His mother was out running errands and had to wait at the road block for someone to bring him to her.

It was scary, I don't need that to happen again, said Greens mother.

But neighbors say the inconvenience is nothing compared to the pain the worker and his family must be feeling.

We need to be thankful everyday that everything is as well with us as it is, said Mulkey.

A Georgia Power spokesperson said it's not always protocol to turn off the gas before you start this kind of work and workers usually rely on street markings to know where gas lines are and avoid them.

Crews are still on scene and a timeline for the cleanup has not yet been established.

The identity of the injured man has not been released pending notification of his family. His condition is not known at this time.