'We were close,' Matthews, NC, Fire Chief Says after Gas Line Blows
The Charlotte Observer
(TNS)
Firefighters battled a natural gas leak explosion in Matthews Wednesday that was caused by sparks from a power line igniting a fire, according to the Matthews Police Department.
Charlotte and Matthews firefighters as well as Piedmont Natural Gas were at the scene at Morningwood Drive at Pleasant Plains Road, the department said.
“Our crew from engine 12 A just surveyed the hole and the pipe and had retreated back to the truck to develop a plan,” the department said. “A small spark from the powerlines ignited the natural gas.”
The fire was extinguished just before 5 p.m., the department said on social media.
Paramedics were on the scene but no injuries have been reported. Several houses nearby were evacuated, according to the Matthews Fire Department.
Charlotte crews arrived at 12:53 p.m..
Dana Jenkins was in the area buying a car seat she found on Facebook Marketplace when the fire broke out. She didn’t hear an explosion, but said she was shocked to see the size of the flames nearby.
“It was taller than a house for sure,” Jenkins said in a phone interview with The Charlotte Observer. “At least bigger than a two-story house.”
She was forced to go the opposite way she came after first responders closed Old Monroe Road, she said. When she drove by the scene of the fire she said it appeared to be coming from the street, rather than a person’s home.
But given the size of the fire, Jenkins said she was worried about the homes nearby. Multiple fire trucks swarmed the area, and she watched as people walked to the area to see what was happening.
“It was scary,” Jenkins said.
Drivers were advised to seek alternate routes.
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