http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/c810145f860644aea386b8288bdcc...

CLAY CITY, Ky. — Fire officials say an eastern Kentucky gas station has been destroyed after an explosion and fire.

Towering flames at a Clay City BP gas station were first reported early Monday, according to WLEX-TV in Lexington ((http://bit.ly/xPbY3i). No injuries were reported.

Officials told the station that there was an explosion, but they aren't sure what caused it.

Fire officials say they don't suspect foul play, but the cause is under investigation.

Nightclub collapses into heap of rubble after gas explosion narrowly misses passers by

Six people including pregnant woman rescued from gas explosion that ripped through three flats as they slept

• A man was trapped under rubble for more than two hours and a family of four - including pregnant mother - needed to be rescued from the roof
• Elderly woman was also found and taken to hospital with serious burns
  
• More than 60 people were evacuated from their homes following explosion at 2.30am
  
• Firefighters said it is 'extremely lucky' that nobody was killed

Panola County gas line explosion rocks homes before dawn

POSTED: Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 8:00am

UPDATED: Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 8:56am

Panola County officials say there were no injuries in a gas line explosion near Gary, Texas that shook some homes just before dawn.

The Panola County Sheriff's Office says the accident happened around 6:00 am this morning. No damage was immediately reported, but according to officials, the wellhead where the explosion happened has been shut down.

According to Panola County Sheriff's office the natural gas line is owned and operated by Mark West Pipeline Company and will be beginning repairs as soon as possible.

Early morning pipeline explosion rocks homes in Carthage area

Posted: Apr 04, 2012 8:47 PM JST

Updated: Apr 05, 2012 2:49 AM JST

CARTHAGE, TX (KSLA) -

The Panola County Sheriff's Office confirms it was some type of pipeline explosion that shook homes south of Carthage, Texas just before 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. 

A 12" natural gas transmission line ruptured and exploded. The fire singed nearby trees and knocked out nearby power lines. The pipeline was capped before 8:00 a.m., cutting off the fuel to the fire, which could be seen and felt from a distance.

The line belongs to MarkWest Energy, a midstream natural gas operation based out of Carthage. A spokesperson says the cause of the rupture on the site near Farm to Market 999 and Co Rd 420 is under investigation.

Reports of the explosion and fire in Gary south of Carthage began coming into the KSLA News 12 newsroom just after 6:00 a.m.

"We live outside of Carthage, and can see and feel this Explosion.. Any Word on what it could be," asked the first, along with a picture (right) of a smokey, glowing horizon over darkened treetops.

Another picture came in moments later from Amanda Thames, simply saying, "Explosion happened just before 6am."

"Huge gas well fire near So. Panola Co & Shelby Co. Emergency are trying to find it. It shook houses in a majority of this area," read one tip from Cynthia Kaye McKnight.

Late Wednesday morning, MarkWest vice president Bert Dillmann issued a statement on the incident, confirming the fire was detected on their pipeline about one-quarter of a mile from the Gary Compressor Station:

"There were no injuries or structural damage to the compressor station equipment. The pipeline and compressor station were immediately shut-down and MarkWest's emergency response plan was implemented. MarkWest's personnel were immediately dispatched to the location. The fire, which was limited to brush surrounding the pipeline, was quickly extinguished by the Gary Volunteer Fire Department who left the site by 8:00 a.m. CDT. MarkWest is investigating this incident and will work with local and state authorities throughout this process. MarkWest would also like to thank the first responders for their quick and professional response."

Copyright 2012 KSLA. All rights reserved.

Preparing for pipeline incidents

Pipeline Safety

MANSFIELD, La -

East Texas officials are investigating the cause of an early morning pipeline explosion. It happened around 6am near the Gary Compressor station in Panola County. The pipeline and compressor station, which are owned by MarkWest Energy Partners, were immediately shut down.

There were no injuries or structural damage. The fire did reach brush surrounding the pipeline, but was quickly extinguished by the Gary Volunteer Fire Department.

The situation is one firefighters across the Ark-La-Tex say they're very familiar with. At the DeSoto Parish Fire District 8 Staion, there are training simulations used for every scenario, including pipeline explosions.

"There's a lot of pipelines crossing this area and now with the natural gas production going on, there's even a tremendous amount more of pipelines," said DeSoto Parish Fire Chief, David Manning. "I believe it to be a safe industry. We have very few emergencies dealing with the pipelines. Usually it's just an isolated incident on a small line that's been in place for a number of years."

Manning says, while pipeline incidents may be few and far between, his crew must be prepared in the event one occurs. He says new technology helps them fight scientifically, with gas monitor devices. But, battling the blaze is only half of the task. Manning says the main focus is usually on evacuation procedures. He recommends every resident living near a pipeline to have an evacuation plan, although he says they may never need it for these situations.

"I have a pipeline that was put in in the 1930s running right throught the back of my house through my pasture," said Manning. "Hazardous materials of all types are a part of our everyday lives and as long as they stay in containment then it's not a big issue people need to worry about."

Explosion rocks natural gas compressor station

BY LAURA LEGERE (STAFF WRITER)

Published: March 30, 2012

SPRINGVILLE TWP. - An explosion at a natural gas compressor station in Susquehanna County on Thursday morning blew a hole in the roof of the complex holding the engines, shaking homes as far as a half-mile away and drawing emergency responders from nearby counties.

The 11 a.m. blast at the Lathrop compressor station off Route 29 sent black and gray clouds billowing from the building for several hours, but the damage was contained to the site and no one was injured, said a spokeswoman for Williams Partners LP, which owns the Lathrop station.

Automated emergency shutdown procedures stopped gas from entering or leaving the compressors, and Williams will do a full investigation of the cause and damage as soon as it is safe to go back into the building, Williams spokeswoman Helen Humphreys said.

"The emergency shutdown equipment did work properly to isolate and minimize the incident," she said. "Emergency procedures were immediately activated. That included notifying local authorities and first responders, and evacuating all personnel."

The Lathrop station pressurizes and dehydrates natural gas from Marcellus Shale wells in the county for transport through interstate pipelines, including the Tennessee and Transco, which bring the gas to market. The station was sold to Williams by Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. as part of a deal announced in 2010 that also included a second compressor station and 75 miles of the natural gas drilling company's gathering pipelines.

Cabot spokesman George Stark said the company was working at its well sites Thursday to make sure they were not sending gas to the Lathrop station. He was unable to provide an estimate of how many wells were influenced by the interruption.

"We're working on rerouting the gas to other, operating compressor stations," he said. "We've got multiple ways we flow our gas."

In a press release Thursday, Cabot referred to the incident as a "flash fire, which extinguished itself immediately" and said it was moving approximately 365 million cubic feet of gas per day through the station before it was shut down.

"The investigation has just begun as to equipment damage, if any, the length of disruption or potential impact," Cabot CEO Dan O. Dinges said in the statement.

Colleen Connolly, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Protection, said regulators were alerted to the explosion at around 11:30 a.m., and inspectors spent the afternoon monitoring air quality around the site after gas escaped from the station.

"The natural gas release valve was quickly shut off," she said. "So far, the levels are coming back acceptable, and there is no danger to the public."

The DEP has permitted seven compressor engines for the site, although it was unclear Thursday how many were running at the time of the fire.

"We're going to begin a full-scale investigation into how this happened," she said, "what was going on up there and the situation with the permits - how many compressors were operating up there and how many they were allowed to operate."

Annette Allen was ready to evacuate with her cats late Thursday morning after she heard the boom.

Sitting in her home on Route 3004, Ms. Allen said she listened intently to the scanner as emergency officials spoke about using foam to put out a fire at the compressor station on state Route 29.

"I had my cat cages set, ready to go if they did evacuate us," she said. "It was a big explosion, a big whooshing sound."

She said she now worries that a larger explosion will destroy her home and others.

Peter Patel, owner of Checkered Express in the center of the town on state Route 29 at Route 3004, recalls seeing many firefighters and other officials passing by his store to the site.

"We saw everybody run and we knew something big happened," he said, adding it was the biggest event he has experienced in the last six years as the owner of the convenience store and gas station.

Springville Volunteer Fire Company First Assistant Chief Jason Rinker said more than seven fire companies responded.

"It was hectic," Assistant Chief Rinker said.

After the explosion, he said Williams officials shut down lines to the compressor station.

"We let the gas burn off itself," Assistant Chief Rinker said. "Once things calmed down, we extinguished the fire that was there."

Gas at a glance

April 4, 2012 —

Explosion at PA compressor station under investigation

Emergency personnel from three counties responded to an explosion at the Lathrop gas compressor station in Springville Township, PA that shook homes a half-mile away.

The blast occurred on March 29 at approximately 11 a.m. and produced dark clouds, which spilled from a hole blown in the roof of a building. According to Williams Partners LP, which owns the station, no one was injured. Williams spokeswoman Helen Humphreys said that local authorities were notified and personnel were evacuated. The cause of the blast and extent of the damage is being investigated. The station was sold to Williams by Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. in 2010. The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was notified of the explosion at approximately 11:30 a.m. and began monitoring air quality around the site. A full-scale investigation is planned by DEP, which has permitted seven compressor engines for the site.

House Demolished in Apparent Gas Explosion (Kansas City, Missouri)

Liberty fire officials continue their investigation of the cause of an explosion that demolished a house in the 800 block of Marilynn Avenue off Southview Drive on the west side of Missouri Highway 291 in south Liberty.

According to Fire Chief Mike Snider, they received multiple 911 calls after firefighters were dispatched to a report of a house fire about 6:30 a.m. Friday, April 6.

“While they were en route, it exploded, causing severe destruction,” Snider said.

Snider did not have an estimate of damage to the destroyed house and said there was also some damage to other surrounding houses. Debris hung in tree surrounding the destroyed structure.

Snider said the house was a rental and was empty. There were no injuries, but the explosion startled surround neighbors.

Willie Penn, who lives on the corner of Marilynn and Southview, just one house away from the scene of the explosion, said he works nights and when he arrived home, he smelled gas.

“Last night there was a very bad smell of gas, and I saw an MGE truck in the neighborhood when I went to bed,” Winn said. “I didn’t hear the explosion. I guess I was sound asleep.”

Heidi Wynn, who lives down the street from the explosion, said it woke up her family.

“I was asleep and it lifted my bed up and shook my daughter’s bunk bed,”

she said. “I ran outside to find out what was going on, and debris hit me in the face.”

She said she was not injured because the debris was soft pieces of insulation, but there was also glass scattered about the neighborhood.

Roxanna Swaney, who lives on the east side of Missouri Highway 291, said she heard a thunderous boom and went outside to check. She said the explosion shook her house and rattled her windows.

“It sounded like a jet engine had dropped on the house,” Swaney said. “Then I heard sirens and saw the flames and black smoke through the tree.”

Natural Gas Leak and Ruptured Water Main in Charlotte, North Carolina, April 6 -

Several North Charlotte business owners lost thousands of dollars Friday night when a dangerous natural gas leak forced some of them to evacuate and shut down.

Emergency workers had to close off part of Lasalle Street near I-77 for several hours.

Charlotte fire officials told Eyewitness News they received a call about a strange odor around 5:30 p.m. Friday.

When they arrived they found the natural gas leak. Neighbors were allowed to stay in their homes, but that didn't halt their concerns.

"It's a strong odor, it's a haze in the air and it concerns you," said Latanya Corbett.

A gas station, beauty salon, and barber shop on Lasalle Street were all forced to evacuate due to the incident. Another gas station was allowed to stay open, but business slowed to a crawl on what is usually its busiest night.

Fire officials said they also discovered a ruptured water main that flooded a nearby vacant home around the same time, but at that time, they couldn't say if the incidents were related.

Major explosion rocks petrochemical plant in Taiwan: The China Post/Asia News Network; Saturday, Apr 07, 2012

A major explosion at a CPC Corp., Taiwan plant in Kaohsiung has caused local residents to worry about their safety and disrupted the local petrochemical supply chain. The explosion, which occurred at about 3:28 a.m., sparked a fire that gutted the plant for about five hours before being extinguished.

No casualties were reported. The state-run firm also claimed that no pollution was detected because of the accident.

Operations of the plant and other areas of the same refinery complex were halted, with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu instructing that the heaviest possible penalties be imposed on CPC over the accident.

The southern city's environmental authorities slapped CPC with a NT$1 million fine for creating a hazard to the environment.

CPC Chairman Chu Shao-hua later inspected the site and offered an apology to local residents.

But Chu, pledging reinforced efforts to improve safety, said the accident will not affect the company's oil costs.

The accident comes close on the heels of a major increase in gasoline prices by the state-run company, which has led to complaints from the public and created pressure on inflation.

Firms in the plastics industry said the CPC accident has disrupted the supply chain, with prices of materials and end-products likely to go up if the plant does not resume operations soon enough.

The explosion and ensuing fire hit a butadiene storage facility at the CPC Kaohsiung refinery, which had had a poor safety record more than a decade ago before improvements were made.

The fire is believed to have been caused by a fractured pipe in the factory's distillation tower, Lee Shun-chin, head of the refinery, said at a press conference.

Losses are estimated to reach about NT$50 million (US$1.69 million) because the plant was ordered to close right after the accident for repairs and safety checks, which will take at least one month to complete, Lee said.

The plant produced 40 per cent of CPC's total butadiene, an industrial chemical used as a monomer in the production of synthetic rubber, Lee said.

Though Lee said no toxic gas or waste water leaked from the complex, the accident has fueled outrage among local residents who have for years complained about pollution from the refinery.

During her inspection of the site, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen was circled by angry protesters.

She told CPC to relocate the aging refinery by 2015 as it has promised. She also urged CPC not to ignore safety at the plants simply because they are soon to be moved.

Kuomintang Legislator Huang Chao-shun also demanded that CPC launch an overall safety check of its oil refinery operations in Kaohsiung.

She said the refinery must stop all its operations until the checks can prove its safety. "We cannot let people live alongside an unexploded bomb," she added.

Huang's call was echoed by opposition Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Tai-hua.

Gas leak causes traffic diversions in Dorchester: 3:00pm Saturday 7th April 2012 in Local News

A GAS leak caused traffic problems in Dorchester town centre while workers dug up the roads to locate the source.

Southern Gas Network employees worked through the night on Thursday but failed to find the cause of the leak at the junction of High West Street and Trinity Street.

Another team of workers took over the hunt yesterday, digging up the road outside Goadsby and IJ Brown opticians in High West Street.

Three-way traffic lights were put in place to assist the traffic flow.

The gas company asked people to allow more time for journeys or use public transport while the work was ongoing.

Nearby business premises were also checked in case they had a build up of gas.

The leak was initially reported on Thursday afternoon after a passer-by smelt gas.

A spokeswoman for Southern Gas Networks said: “We will continue working hard to find the leak. We have put up three-way lights, which can cause traffic disruption especially as this is a busy time.

“We would advise people to allow more time for their journey and use public transport if possible.”

One gas worker said: “We’re digging to find the leak. We’ve had a team here all night. We’re going to be here until we find it.”

A spokesman for Goadsby, who did not wish to be named, said: “The gas company came in on Thursday afternoon and checked we had no build up of anything.

“We’re not worried, it’s all under control.”

Liam Blazey, assistant manager at the Panasonic store in Trinity Street, said: “I think the gas company should have come and spoken to us.

“They were digging up the road outside yet we didn’t really know what it was all about.

“We’re an electrical store so we’d go up first if there was any explosion.”

April 10 - Apartment Complex Gutted by Natural Gas Explosion - (Texas)

Lubbock Fire Department investigators say leaking natural gas appears to have sparked the massive explosion and fire that ripped through the Briercroft Manor Apartment Complex in the 1300 block of 65th Drive.

Deputy Fire Marshal Robert Loveless reports natural gas was the main fuel source, but they are still looking for the ignition source. Residents report having smelled gas in the home Monday night. Loveless says one resident filed an official report about a half hour before the explosion happened at roughly 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Witnesses say they heard a single blast which shook nearby buildings, followed by an inferno and dense smoke.

“Upon our arrival we called for a 2nd alarm, which brought several units,” Deputy Fire Marshal Robert Loveless said. “Six fire engines and three truck companies, which are the tall aerial ladders that you see, are here.”

There are several injuries, including seven victims who were treated at Lubbock hospitals. One of the injured, an infant, was caught beneath the roof as it caved in. That one-month old is reportedly okay. A 38-year old man has been admitted to UMC's burn unit.

38 people are now homeless with just the clothes on their backs. The extent of the damage was so severe; the complex has been deemed unsafe and has been demolished. Five families have been relocated to other apartments and the others will be assisted by the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

“We see this as a key component here in Lubbock,” said Melody Patton, Salvation Army Community Relations. “We are out here not only serving the physical needs of the survivors and responders, but also the spiritual needs. We will be out here well after the disaster helping rebuild these lives.”

slideshow

Gas Explosion Causes Building Collapse in Pakistan (April 13)

Rescue workers search for bodies after a building collapsed in Lahore.

At least 12 people, including two children have been killed after a factory building collapsed in Pakistan’s Punjab Province, Press TV reports.

The three-story building collapsed following a gas explosion in a shop in the eastern city of Gujranwala on Friday.

As a result of the incident, at least another 13 people have been injured while several are said to be in critical condition. The death toll may rise as several others are reportedly trapped under the building.

Tens of people have been killed over the past few months as a result of the collapse of poorly constructed buildings.

On Friday, at least six construction workers were injured when a building caved in Rawalpindi.

In February, 15 people, mostly women and children were killed after a factory building collapsed in Lahore.

* Explosion at main Mozdok-Kazi-Magomed gas pipeline didn't affect gas supplies to Russia

A strong explosion occurred last night at the main Mozdok-Gazimagomed gas pipeline in the Shemakhinsky region of Azerbaijan. At 10:50 p.m. there was a gas leak on the 1200 mm-diameter Altyagadzh-Agsu section of the pipeline. The explosion provoked a fire. The fire has been extinguished, there are no victims and no injuries, Trend reports with reference to the MES State Fire Service of Shemakhinsky region.

The police office of the Shemakhinsky region clarified that the explosion occurred on the part of the pipeline leading from Shemakha to the village of Gyzmeydan. Currently, supplies of gas through the pipeline are suspended. The cause of the explosion is still unknown.

* Explosion in Azerbaijani gas pipeline

April 14, 2012 | 08:52 

A powerful explosion rocked the Mozdok – Gazimagomed gas pipeline in Shamakhi Region of Azerbaijan on Friday evening. The explosion caused fire.

According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations the explosion was followed by gas outflow.

The gas supply through the pipeline was stopped and the gas remaining in the pipeline burned in two hours, Rosbalt reports.

There were no injured, the fire has been extinguished.

150 People Evacuated After 4-Inch Gas Line Ruptures - London, UK (April 14)

3 Different Gas Leaks in Indianapolis, IN - April 17 -

Gas crews were investigating three different gas leaks Tuesday morning in Carmel, police dispatchers say.

The first two gas leaks were at 205 Second Ave. NW and the intersection of Central Avenue and 11th Street. As of 11:40 a.m., dispatchers said those two gas leaks were capped.

The third, at West Carmel Drive and Third Avenue SW caused the ground to move up a couple feet, a passerby told police. Crews were still working on that as of noon.

Carmel Fire Department officials say in the third gas leak, a 4-inch low pressure gas line was cut. It was capped at 1 p.m.

Vectren crews handled the leaks. Businesses in the surrounding area were evacuated and traffic was restricted while crews worked on the issues.

Two explosions at a chemical plant in western Japan on Sunday killed one worker and injured 22 others, including plant workers and nearby residents. The blasts occurred at Mitsui Chemicals Iwakuni-Ohtake plant as workers were trying to shut down the factory due to a problem in another section of the plant. Mitsui Chemicals, which is based in Waki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, produces adhesives for wood and rubber tyres. The first explosion occurred at about 2 a.m. local time, killing a 22-year-old factory employee and injuring 11 employees. At 8 a.m. local time a second explosion was caught on a surveillance camera, but the buildings were evacuated beforehand and no was hurt. More than 430 buildings, including nearby homes, were damaged in the blast. The fire department and police are investigating what caused the massive explosions. According to the police, there were no dangers of toxic leakage. The flames were brought under control about 15 hours after the second explosion.

http://youtu.be/wxRddIOMLU8

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - Workers on the evening shift at a city sawmill were forced to run for their lives after an earth-shaking explosion and massive fire sent walls crumbling on top of them, killing one person and critically injuring at least seven more.

Colleagues at the Lakeland Sawmill scrambled to help each other, with one saying he used scissors to cut charred clothing off those whose burned skin was dripping.

"It was quite gruesome," said Brian Croy, first vice-president of the United Steelworkers Local 1-424, in an interview from his home.

"When you walk out, there was guys with their skin hanging off their arms and stuff from being burned."

Croy said he was among six people inside the mill's lunchroom talking about training when the explosion happened.

"That thing came up so fast, so quick. I don't know where it came from, but it was almost like a cannon going off. It blew through there. It ended just that quick," he said.

He said the explosion knocked the lunchroom's plywood walls down on top of him, but there was a little bit of space between him and the collapsed wall.

The mill's lights remained on, but dark smoke engulfed him and he had to put a coat over his face so he could breathe.

"I thought: 'This is it.' I consciously stuck my face in my coat, eh, and it (the smoke) went away."

He and his coworkers got out through the gap in the outside wall created by the explosion. Behind them, smaller explosions went off.

"It's almost like you were coming out of the war zone. Everything was levelled. I met that one fellow. I think his fingers were blown off, and his clothing, a lot of it was gone. It was burned off and his hair."

Croy said he asked the injured coworker to follow him and others to a first-aid station, located outside the mill and near a planer.

At the first-aid station, injured workers were sitting on a tarp, holding up their burned arms and hands, he said. Some were moaning but others were in shock and were quiet.

One worker, suffering from burns, refused to sit on a chair, said Croy, because the injuries were less painful if he stood up and bounced around.

Another worker lay on the tarp naked, without any hair and burned black.

Croy said paramedics set up an ambulance station, and he drove a few people to hospital before dropping by the office and then heading home to his wife and grandson.

It took a while, but Croy said he has calmed down and quit shaking.

For a time, five workers were unaccounted for, though authorities now say no one was left inside the burning mill.

Just after 8 a.m. on Tuesday, the Northern Health Authority, which handles health care for the Prince George region, confirmed one person had died.

No other details were provided but the release from the health authority said three patients had been airlifted to Vancouver, a fourth was being treated in Edmonton, six remain in Prince George in serious but stable condition and 13 had been treated and released.

"We're devastated by the news of this incident and our thoughts are with our employees and their families," said Greg Stewart, president of Sinclar Group Forest Products.

In all, Sinclar Group Forest Products said 24 people were in the sawmill when the blast occurred, a further 16 were in the planer mill next door and four were working in the yard.

"We will not speculate on the cause of the incident at Lakeland Mills until the proper authorities have completed their investigation," said Stewart.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/five-missing-b-c-sawmill-explosion-23-hosp...

Power Line Sparks Gas-fed Blaze in Minneapolis

May 6 - An unusual gas leak and fire forced the evacuation of some residents in southeast Minneapolis early Sunday.

Units were called to the 700 block of 8th Avenue SE just before 2:30 a.m. for wires down and a possible vehicle fire.

Assistant Chief Cherie Penn said units found a live power line arcing and sparking in the middle of the street.  The fire spread to a vehicle fire and firefighters evacuated the closest home and requested crews from Xcel Energy and Centerpoint Energy.

As crews continued to investigate the scene, it was discovered that natural gas from under the street also caught fire. The blaze spread to two other vehicles and a tree.

Firefighters began evacuating nearby homes and worked with Centerpoint crews to monitor gas readings in the affected area.

“They obtained zero readings on gas meters in all structures monitored, but detected high levels of gas in the ­area,” Penn said.

To avoid dissipating the gas, command allowed the vehicles to burn while the utility companies prepared to shutoff the has.

Workers equipped to dig up the area arrived about 6:30 a.m. and pinched off the first line within 30 minutes, according to Penn.  Additional gas lines into the area were shutoff just before 8 a.m.

The burning vehicles and asphalt were then extinguished and tows were allowed to enter the area to remove the damaged vehicles shortly after.

Hennepin EMS crews stood by at the scene, but no injuries were reported.

According to Penn, callers reported a loud bang in the area shortly before fire crews were dispatched. It was discovered that a had blown about a block away, but they were unsure what caused the fire. Officials are looking to see if lightning,  rain or winds played a role igniting the fire.

http://twincitiesfirewire.com/2012/05/06/power-line-sparks-gas-fed-...

http://www.ksla.com/story/18421086/gas-tank

Blown transformer causes gas and acid tanks to explode

UNION COUNTY, AR (KSLA) -

Ambulance, fire and emergency responders in Union County responded to the Eldorado Chemical Plant in Eldorado, Arkansas for an explosion early Tuesday morning.

The explosion reportedly happened around 4 a.m. The plant's located in the 4500 block of N. West Ave. in Eldorado.

According to a Union County, Arkansas Sheriff's deputy, a transformer on site blew right next to a gas tank. That explosion caused another tank nearby to explode as well. The deputy confirmed that the other tank was an acid tank.

No injuries or evacuations were reported, according to Union County Sheriff, Mike McGoo.

House explosion injures 6 in Wisconsin

(CNN) -- A house explosion in a northern suburb of Milwaukee on Saturday injured six people, including a firefighter and a police officer, fire officials said.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear, but is under investigation, said Kerry Wenzel, a spokeswoman with the North Shore Fire Department.

Video from CNN affiliate WISN showed a gaping hole where a house once stood, as firefighters doused the debris with water.

Fire Chief Robert Whitaker said three structures were involved in the incident -- the house that was destroyed and those on either side of it.

Among the injured were two residents, a neighbor and a passerby, both of whom tried to assist those inside, he said.

The injured police officer was treated for smoke inhalation, while the firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, the chief said.

* Natural gas explosion damages S.D. house

By Associated Press  Devils Lake Journal

Posted Jun 04, 2012 @ 04:30 PM

Devils Lake, ND —

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) — A natural gas explosion damaged a Mitchell home and rattled windows throughout the neighborhood.
Mitchell public safety chief Lyndon Overweg says the person who rented the house wasn't there at the time. No one was reported injured.
The blast moved the walls of the home and knocked its front porch away from its main structure. Overweg says there was "significant structural damage" to the home.
Next-door neighbor Kayla Fluth says she was sleeping on her couch when the explosion happened just after 6 p.m. Sunday.
Fluth says her own home "shook like something fell on it."
It's the third natural gas explosion in Mitchell since 2007.
The NorthWestern Energy utility will be drilling holes in the ground Monday to check for gas accumulations.

* Cause Of House Explosion Under Investigation

By Peggy Moyer

Published: June 4, 2012, 1:21 PM

MITCHELL, SD - Fire investigators are searching for clues as to what caused a natural gas explosion at a house in Mitchell. It happened at 800 W. 2nd Street just after 6 p.m.

The Mitchell Director of Public Safety says the home has major damage.  There is a crack in the foundation, windows are blown out and the front porch and an addition on the back of the house are partially blown off.

Two people living in the house were not home when the explosion happened. Firefighters evacuated the neighborhood, including a mother and children next door.  Fire crews told her to get out and go at least a block down the street to safety.

This is the third house explosion in Mitchell over the past five years.

We'll talk with officials with Northwestern Energy about Sunday night's blast tonight on KELOLAND News.

* KELOLAND TV

Although sawdust ignition was the Establishment's promulgated "suspected cause" of the tragic sawmill explosion in Prince George BC this April, soil tests have revealed high levels of methane gas and the sawmill has been closed indefinitely.

http://www.theprovince.com/High+methane+levels+shut+down+Prince+Geo...

High Methane Gas Levels Shut Down Prince George Sawmill Where Blast Occurred (June 22) -

A sawmill where an explosion killed two workers and injured two dozen others in April has been shut down indefinitely after soil tests revealed high levels of methane gas.

Lakeland Mills spokesman Greg Stewart said Friday that company tests detected the methane and prompted a shutdown of the recently reopened planer mill and closure of the mill energy system, which provides heat to some area businesses.

Twenty-eight planer mill employees, who have only been back to their jobs since late May following the blast on April 24, are out of work again, he said.

Stewart said the company had been conducting soil and air tests since the explosion, and that no methane has been discovered in air samples.

“We believe it’s better to be safe than sorry,” he said. “We are acting now to ensure the safety of our employees and will be conducting further tests in the coming week to understand how these findings will apply to our property.”

Stewart said Prince George city and fire department officials say the methane discovery did not pose a danger to people working or living nearby.

The Lakeland sawmill explosion and a blast in January at the Babine Forest Products sawmill in Burns Lake have been the subject of intense investigations, but their causes have not been determined.

Two workers and about a dozen others were injured in the Burns Lake incident.

The B.C. government ordered all sawmills in the province to undergo extensive dust cleanups after speculation arose that fine dust associated with milling pine beetle-killed wood could be explosive.

Gas Leak Explosion Causes Widespread Damage, Flattens Home, Kills Child - England (June 26) -

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/327422

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18594635

The house in Buckley Street was destroyed and many other houses were damaged in the blast, which is thought to have been caused by a gas leak.

One man was pulled from the rubble and airlifted to Wythenshawe Hospital with serious burns.

Fire and rescue teams have been searching for casualties but it is now believed everyone is accounted for.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said it would remain at the scene until it and police confirmed they were not looking for anyone else.

Station manager Dean Nankivell said: "The scene down there is catastrophic. It's just a great big pile of bricks.

"Whatever has caused this has gone with some force. Gas is definitely a strong contender.

"If there is anybody in there, we will be there until we find them."

The fire service said more than 30 firefighters were at the scene in the aftermath, with extra teams drafted in from neighbouring Lancashire Fire Service.

The Urban Search and Rescue Team, some of whom have worked in Haiti, New Zealand and Japan, used three sniffer dogs to help in the operation.

A fire service helicopter with listening equipment was also called to the scene to try to detect if people were trapped in the rubble.

National Grid said there was a report of a "gas escape" at 10:40 BST.

The company issued a statement saying: "National Grid can confirm that it received a report of a smell of gas in the Edmund Street and Buckley Street area of Shaw at 10.40am today.

"This was shortly followed by another call to report that there had been an explosion.

"Engineers arrived on site to find that five properties - seven to 13 Buckley Street - had been badly damaged."

One hundred homes were evacuated and Oldham Council set up a rest centre at Crompton House School in Rochdale Road for residents removed from their homes.

Councillor Jean Stretton, who is helping to co-ordinate facilities for residents, said there was a "blitz spirit" at the centre.

"There is a mix of people who are quite subdued because of the shock of what has happened here today, but there is also a lot of community spirit going on," she said.

"We've had a lot of support from the local community with people coming and bringing donations of clothes and baby chairs. The local stores have brought things like food and nappies and water, there has been a fantastic response."

Earlier, Supt Neil Evans, of GMP, said: "What I am now able to confirm is that there has been at least one fatality.

"That is believed to be a young child from one of the addresses and the next of kin has been informed."

Police had said another person was trapped in the debris, but later confirmed that person had been accounted for.

The man who was taken to hospital was initially believed to have been suffering 80% burns, but the North West Ambulance Service later said he was suffering about 25-30% burns.

Mr Nankivell, who is also head of the fire service's Urban Search and Rescue Team, said structures damaged in the blast had to be stabilised to make the area safe enough for investigators to go in.

Alex Perkins, who lives across the road, said: "It's like a war zone - tiles that have blown off literally across the streets, there's just debris everywhere. It's mad.

Tim Eyre, eyewitness: ''It was mayhem''

"It's just empty, there's nothing there, just bricks on the floor, just rubble."

Georgian Ulla, who also lives on the street, said her house "shook like it was an earthquake".

"All the lights shook - I thought someone was breaking in to begin with," she said.

"First thing that I saw was all the toys on the floor. Apparently there are kids that live in the house."

Ashfaq Hussein, whose father is the landlord of the house where the explosion took place, said: "We are absolutely shocked."

He said the man who suffered the serious burns and his partner were due to get married soon.

Shaw ward councillor Mark Alcock, who lives a quarter of a mile away, described the scene as "utter carnage".

"An end-terrace house has been completely flattened and properties up to 800m away have had their windows blown in," he said.

"It's a real mess."

Peter Travis, who works nearby, said: "I heard the loudest bang you could ever hear, then I could see bits of slate going through the air like ticker tape.

"Bits of slate were landing near us about 250 metres away.

"I could then hear alarms going off and then a silence, it was absolutely frightening."

Craig Needham who runs a nearby garage, said staff ran outside when they heard the explosion.

"We could just see a black plume, we thought a bomb had dropped," he said.

Adam Pollard, 21, was due to move in to a property around the corner from Buckley Street and was gathering belongings at his mother's house nearby when he heard the explosion.

"It was the biggest bang I have ever heard, all the windows shook," he said.

"I could see the smoke and came running up towards my flat.

"I got to the street and the three houses that had been there were just rubble, basically.

"I was worried if someone was trapped. I went running on to the rubble, shouting to see if anyone was injured. I couldn't see anyone and there was no fire, just smoke in the air.

"There was a weird smell, not of gas, like a burning smell."

He added: "I can't believe somebody has even been found alive in there.

"The house must have been completely filled with gas."

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3588399.ece

Blasts, gas leak at pesticide plant

A major disaster was averted when explosions followed by a gas leak rocked a pesticide plant of Nagarjuna Agrichem Limited at Chilakalapalem, about 12 km from here, on Saturday.

Seventeen factory workers were affected, three of them critically.

The seriously injured were rushed to a corporate hospital in Visakhapatnam.

The blast occurred on the fifth floor of the building at about 9 a.m. when 300 workers on duty left their workplace during tea break.

It would have been major catastrophe had all the workers been inside at the time when fire engulfed the third, fourth and fifth floors. “The reactor could not absorb the pressure while preparing a chemical formulation -- Myco butanil -- for making a pesticide. There was a backfire leading to a massive explosion and fire,” Collector G. Venkatram Reddy told The Hindu. The explosion was so deafening that villagers in the vicinity ran for their lives. Panic-stricken villagers from Alinagaram, Chilakalapalem, Akkivalasa and Ravupalli complained of dizziness and nausea. All the educational institutions in the area were given a holiday.

“When I heard the deafening sound and saw glass partitions in our factory broken, I thought there was an earthquake,” said M. Srinivas, a technician of Sam Piston, a piston-making unit near Nagarjuna Agrichem Ltd. plant.

Tension gripped the area as the management was tight-lipped about the cause of the accident.

Attempts to extinguish the fire were hampered by lack of proper equipment. Fire engines with hydraulic platform and foam arrived from Visakhapatnam only at 1.30 p.m.

Joint Chief Inspector of Factories D. Chandrasekhar Verma, said the solvents caught fire at a height of 29 metres as the reactor could not withstand the pressure outside. Sources said the safety mechanism at the factory failed to function after detecting the snag.

Meanwhile, the government ordered closure of the pesticide plant. The Collector said the company would be allowed to resume operations only after a detailed evaluation of its safety systems.

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_07_11/Gas-explosion-rocks-Ukraine-boost...

Seven gas station workers were injured as a result of this blast. They have been taken to the central district hospital.

The explosion took place at the Chervonodonetskaya natural gas booster station in the Ukrainian village of Kopanka, Balakleysky Region, at around 8:30 a.m. Moscow time, after repair works were concluded on the second machine.

No fire ensued. The machine wasn’t damaged by the blast. The explosion however tore down some equipment of the booster station and shattered the windows. The cause of the incident is being probed into.   

http://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/article_7cf2896e-cc6b-11...

Midtown gas explosion prompts evacuation of apartments

Photo by Wiley Price

Fire

Firemen work to put out a fire from a ruptured gas line at the corner of Enright and Clara in St. Louis Thursday afternoon. Photo by Wiley Price

Posted: Thursday, July 12, 2012 5:03 p

http://www.firehouse.com/news/10742521/explosion-wracks-oregon-dist...

Ashland Daily Tidings, Ore.
July 15, 2012

A violent explosion blew the garage door off an Ashland distillery and sent flames shooting under a door the employee had just closed behind him.

July 14--Alchemical Solutions had one lucky still operator working Friday inside its Ashland distillery when a violent explosion blew the garage door off its warehouse and sent flames shooting under a door the employee had just closed behind him, the owner said.

The organic distillery and the majority of its specialty equipment were gutted in the alcohol-and-natural-gas-fed inferno, Alchemical Solutions owner Aaren Glover said.

The company, which produces bulk pure spirit alcohol for tinctures, perfumes and drinks, among other products, leases the 12,000-square-foot warehouse along with Dagoba Organic Chocolate, which stores raw materials in a section of the warehouse opposite Alchemical's operation, Ashland Fire & Rescue spokesperson Chris Chambers said.

No one was injured during the incident, he said.

Large stores of raw cacao, sugar and other materials owned by the chocolate manufacturer were ruined from smoke damage and a lack of electricity for cooling during the blaze, he said.

Glover, who has only begun to estimate the cost of the damage, said it could total anywhere from $1.5 million to $2 million. Both the business and the landowner, Capstone Asset Management Corp., have insurance.

"I think it could have been a gas leak "... alcohol doesn't explode," Glover said. "Everything in there is explosion proof. We've been doing the same process for nine years "... nothing unique about today."

Glover's employee, whom he wished to keep anonymous, had just started the morning's first batch, "a few-hundred-gallon re-still," of 150-proof spirits, Glover said.

"He started it and walked into the office. "... He felt the 'boom!' and saw flames shoot under the door back to the warehouse," Glover said. "He was seconds away from being in that."

The rest of about 300 gallons of high-proof alcohol Glover has on hand was locked away in fire-proof containers and did not contribute to the fire, Chambers said. A 32,000-pound heap of organic corn grain in the distillery did burn and go to waste in the flames.

The blaze sent a towering black column of smoke a few hundred feet into the air south of Ashland.

Ashland Fire & Rescue Capt. Matt Freiheit said firefighters were forced to knock down most of the blaze before being able to attack one portion of the fire fueled by a gas leak.

Residents in neighborhoods on the south side of Tolman Creek Road were without gas as Avista workers were forced to shut off lines farther away from the valve at the distillery, which sits beneath where gas-fed flames poured out the building's windows.

The gas was turned off at about 1 p.m., Freiheit said.

Valerie Muroki, who is retired and lives on Tolman Creek Road near the distillery, said smoke from the fire gave her watery eyes and a headache like no grass or forest fire smoke ever has.

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/oh_tuscarawas/one-dead-...

One dead in Bolivar natural gas explosion

BOLIVAR, Ohio - Firefighters in Bolivar are not sure what caused an explosion that killed a 19-year-old man at an oil and gas well Monday morning.

The victim is from Stark County, but his identity has not yet been released.

Thick, black smoke could be seen billowing from the area when the explosion happened around 9:40 a.m. in the 10000 block of state Route 212. The well is on private property, but is owned by MKE Producing Inc., a private investment group, according to Lawrence Township officials.

There were two workers at the site, but one person was called to North Canton, according to the Tuscarawas County Coroner Dr. James Hubert. When the supervisor was driving back to the site, he found out about the blast.

"The bottom line is that when he was gone, there was an explosion. All the neighbors heard it," Dr. Hubert said.

An employee at a nearby group home said he felt the ground start to shake and looked toward the oil well. He said the cover of a storage tank shot about 100 feet into the air, and fuel leaked down a driveway and into a field.

The holding tank landed more than a quarter of a mile from site of the blast, dropped in a field and scorched a large section of grass.

Brandie Hanley, who lives around the corner from the blast site, took several pictures and said the force of the explosion blew open her back door.

"I thought maybe something actually crashed. It was awful. It was the worst think I've seen."

Responders from more than a half-dozen departments helped to get the resulting fire under control. Hazardous-materials crew were trying to contain the fuel spill.

The medical examiner said one law enforcement official was also taken to a nearby hospital after inhaling toxic fumes.

Firefighters first responded to a call of a natural gas smell, but the explosion apparently happened while rescue crews were on their way.

The state fire marshal is investigating. A cause is unknown at this point.

Lawrence Township City Hall erroneously reported two people died around 1 p.m.

http://www.kaplantoday.com/view/full_story/19366878/article-Gas-pip...

INTRACOASTAL CITY - The explosion could be heard as far away as 12 miles when a 16-inch natural gas pipe line ruptured and exploded Wednesday morning in Intracoastal City.

The pipe line, owned by PSI MidStream out of Houston, exploded around 4 a.m. and the light from the fire could be seen as far away as Pecan Island and Erath.

Lee Powell of PSI Midstream said it is too early to determine what caused the pipe to rupture. An inspection team will be on the scene to inspect the pipe, he said.

Powell said the pipeline,which was buried three to five feet deep, had been in the ground for at least 50 years and was transporting natural gas to a plant in Kaplan.

The explosion created a large crater in the ground where the pipe line was buried. Parts of the pipe scattered as far away as 50 yards from the rupture. Grass and trees that surrounded the pipeline were burned within a 100-yard radius.

By 6:30 a.m., three valves in three different locations in the parish were shut off, stopping the flow of the gas. Once the gas stopped, the fire ceased and traffic was allowed back on La. 82 heading to and from Intracoastal City.

No one was injured in the explosion.

Volunteer firemen from Seventh Ward, Forked Island, Meaux/Nunez and a pumper truck from Abbeville arrived to the burning pipe line at 4:15 a.m.

When they arrived, the firemen could not go into the field where the fire was burning because of the heat and the safety issue.

Joseph Mouton of the Seventh Ward Fire Department said when the 911 call came, the caller could not determine if it was a oil production well or a pipeline that blew. Mouton said he determined it was a pipeline explosion based on the white smoke.

The first thing the firemen did was stop traffic on La. 82 from passing near the burning pipeline. Mouton said the firemen began evacuating homes and businesses over a two-mile radius. By 6:30 a.m. they had all returned home.

The fire departments and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office remained on scene most of the morning. They never did use water to put out any fire, including the grass that burned. Mouton said the firemen were glad the fields were green and not dry. “We could have been fighting a marsh fire if were in a drought,” said Mouton.

Representatives from the pipeline were on scene Wednesday morning and an investigation had been launched into what caused the gas line to rupture.

The Environmental Protection Agency was also on location at 6:30 a.m. monitoring the air through the burn.

This is an interesting little tidbit.....can we say methane seeping.  Pavement just doesn't explode for no reason.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/freak-pavement-explosions-hav...

Thanks Starr. Here is a map.

1) Comment by Starr DiGiacomo 19 hours ago

Gas Well Explosion in Mississippi

A gas well exploded near Clara, Mississippi (Wayne County) last night at approximately 8pm.

2) Comment by Starr DiGiacomo on Wednesday (July18)

http://www.kaplantoday.com/view/full_story/19366878/article-Gas-pip...

Natural gas pipeline explodes in Intracoastal City; no one injured

Gas pipeline explodes in Intracoastal City; 10 people evacuated

3) Comment by Starr DiGiacomo on Tuesday (July 17)

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/oh_tuscarawas/one-dead-...

http://www.alresalah.ps/en/index.php?act=post&id=909

For the 15th time: An Explosion hits Egypt's gas pipeline to Israel, Jordan

Rash of house explosions across North America the last few days.

Gas Leak Causes House Explosion in Edmonton, Canada (July 23) -
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/07/23/gas-leak-causes-house-explosion

Girl Killed, 6 Others Hurt in New York House Explosion (July 24) -
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Report-6-hurt-1-missing-after...

Chicago Crews Douse Blaze in Vacant House After Natural Gas Explosion (July 24) -
http://www.firehouse.com/news/10746139/chicago-crews-douse-blaze-af...

Three Bodies Recovered From Georgia House Explosion (July 18) -
http://www.11alive.com/news/article/248767/40/1-victim-IDd-in-Ball-...

House Explodes, Burns, Collapses in Kalamazoo, Michigan (July 22) -
http://www.minbcnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=779324

Gas Leak Causes Minneapolis House Explosion (July 22) -
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/07/23/authorities-gas-leak-cause... 

http://www.dailycamera.com/erie-news/ci_21208240/boulder-county-cre...

2 critically injured in explosion, roof collapse at Erie Middle School

Rescue workers transport one of the victims of an explosion at Erie Middle School to a waiting medical helicopter on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012. ( JEREMY PAPASSO )

ERIE -- Two construction workers and a school district employee were injured Wednesday -- two critically -- following an explosion in Erie Middle School's gymnasium that shook nearby homes and caused part of the building's roof to collapse.

No students or teachers were in the building at the time of the explosion, which occurred in a part of the school that currently is being renovated, officials said.

While investigators said they have not determined a cause, John Poynton, spokesman for the St. Vrain Valley School District, said initial reports indicate a water heater may have exploded.

Emergency dispatchers began receiving calls around 12:13 p.m. Wednesday about an explosion at the Erie school, 650 Main St., according

A firefighter exits Erie Middle School on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, after searching for people trapped inside following an explosion and partial roof collapse. ( JEREMY PAPASSO )

to Laura McConnell, a spokeswoman with the Mountain View Fire Protection District.

When emergency crews arrived, they found the explosion had caused part of the gym's roof to collapse. Three people suffered fall- and burn-related injuries, McConnell said, with two being transported to local hospitals by ambulance and one victim airlifted from the scene.

By Wednesday evening, officials had not released the identities of the three victims, although McConnell confirmed that two remained in critical condition at Front Range hospitals and the third was in the process of being released at around 6:30 p.m.

Earlier, dispatchers described at least two of the victims as having second-degree burns. McConnell could not confirm the severity of the injuries, but said it was likely the person who was airlifted was taken to a specialized burn unit.

While school was not in session Wednesday, McConnell said there were some school officials present who were overseeing construction inside the building. Although officials initially indicated that all three victims were contractors, Poynton confirmed Wednesday evening that one of them was a district employee.

The explosion could be heard at neighboring homes and caused several neighbors to run outside to see what was going on.

"I was just watching TV when I heard this big old boom and the pictures fell off the wall," said Lisa Armijo, who lives a few doors down from Erie Middle School. "I just grabbed my kids and ran outside. It was pretty scary."

Click on any photo to see photo gallery

Another neighbor, Mike Meade, said, "I knew it wasn't a kid jumping around or something falling over. You could tell right away it was a pretty big explosion."

Klipp Architecture and Adolfson & Peterson Construction have been removing the school's second floor this summer, as the district expands the school's capacity from 532 students to 950 students.

Of the school's 115,000 square feet, 50,000 square feet are being renovated, while 25,000 square feet are being demolished and replaced, according to officials. Although the second floor is being removed, new classrooms will be added on the northwestern and eastern sides of the school, so it will have 26 classrooms, up from 20.

Construction began in November, while school was in session. Temporary classrooms are being used to house students as the remodeling work is done. The entire project was scheduled to be finished for the fall of 2013.

Classes are scheduled to start at Erie Middle School on Aug. 16.

The Erie Police Department, Lafayette Fire Department and the Colorado State Patrol also responded to assist Mountain View Fire and the Boulder County Sheriff's Office at the scene Wednesday.

Camera Staff Writer Amy Bounds, Colorado Hometown Weekly Staff Writer Doug Pike and Times-Call Staff Writer Victoria Camron contributed to this report.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2012-08-02/content_6622278.html

YANGON, August 2 (Xinhua) -- Gas explosion occurred in a hydrogen peroxide chemical plant in Chauk, central part of Myanmar's Magway region, Thursday afternoon, report reaching here said.

The violent explosion with heavy smoke rising to the sky took place at about 1:00 p.m. local time.

The explosion was heard in areas 5 kilometers from the scene, local sources said.

The chemical plant, which lies between Sichopin and Yedwin villages, is said to be storing hydrogen peroxide gas.

Casualties are unknown. However, people nearby felt hard in breathing.

Rescue team comprising firefighters and local Red Cross were seen rushing to the scene, eyewitnesses said in telephone, adding that the people living in nearby villages are being evacuated to safer places.

The cause of the explosion is being traced.

Gas main explodes in Lafayette

http://www.purdueexponent.org/city/article_4b5ae1a6-dcda-11e1-bda5-...

8/2/12, Lafayette Explosion

Lafayette fire inspector Gary Bennett explains how a gas explosion occurred in the storage building on North Third Street.

Posted: Thursday, August 2, 2012 3:43 pm | Updated: 6:08 pm, Thu Aug 2, 2012.

A small gas explosion occurred at approximately 2:00 p.m. Thursday, on 500 North Third Street in Lafayette.

Fire crews responded to the scene and learned that nearby construction hit a gas line which caused an explosion in a small storage property owned by the Wabash River Enhancement Corporation.

Lafayette fire inspector Gary Bennett said the damage was minor and that nobody was injured.

"The electrical conduit or gas line might was compromised inside the building," Bennett said. "That line was damaged and that's when the fire started."

The windows shattered leaving glass and debris on the sidewalk, but Bennett said the accident only caused about $1,000 worth of damage. Other nearby buildings were inspected and no gas leaks were found, he said.

Stan Lambert, executive director of the Wabash River Enhancement Corporation, said the group purchased the building from the Dodds Paint Company in 2010 as part of the Wabash River enhancement project. The property is being used for file storage as of now and he's just happy nobody was around.

"No one was here, no one was hurt," Lambert said. "We're very fortunate.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Fire-at-Chevron-refinery-in-R...

Fire at Chevron refinery in Richmond

Thousands of East Bay residents were ordered to stay in their homes with the windows and doors closed Monday night after a series of explosions and fires tore through Chevron's Richmond refinery.

The explosions started about 6:15 p.m., and at least two large fires spewed thick, black smoke into the darkening sky.

The fire started at the refinery's No. 4 Crude Unit, Chevron officials said. Just before 6:30 p.m., an inspection crew discovered that there was a diesel leak in a line in the unit - and that the leak was growing.

Shortly after the crew evacuated the area, the diesel ignited, said Nigel Hearne, manager of the refinery.

All employees had been accounted for and there were no fatalities, but one refinery worker suffered burns to his wrist and was treated at the on-site clinic.

About five minutes after the explosions, sirens tore through the air, alerting residents to stay indoors to prevent breathing tainted air. Some people got in their cars and drove away from the smoke that spread throughout the neighborhoods east of the refinery.

"Everybody evacuated so fast people's car alarms were going off," said Sara Monares, 55, who lives a short distance from the refinery.

Health officials' main concern was fumes from crude oil and diesel fuel, but winds were carrying the smoke and pollutants skyward, said Maria Duazo, a hazardous materials specialist with the Contra Costa County Health Services Department.

A shelter-in-place warning was issued for Richmond, North Richmond and San Pablo and remained in effect late Monday. An advisory for those with lung conditions or a sensitivity to smoke to stay indoors was expanded to all of Contra Costa County. Residents as far away as the Oakland hills were being warned by police about smoke heading that way.

Air samples taken

As the smoke stretched out over the El Cerrito hills, Contra Costa County hazardous materials units rolled through the neighborhoods, taking air samples.

Trisha Asuncion, hazardous materials specialist with Contra Costa County, said that no hazardous compounds had been detected in the air, but that monitoring would continue.

Kaiser's Richmond Medical Center said several dozen people came to the emergency room Monday night complaining of shortness of breath, but none was seriously ill.

Julius Bailey, 21, who lives on Barrett Avenue in Richmond, blocks away from the refinery, was at the hospital wearing a face mask. He said his throat had started burning and his eyes itching. After seeing a doctor, he said, "They told me I'm not going to die, but it sure feels pretty serious."

BART closed the Richmond, El Cerrito del Norte and El Cerrito Plaza stations at about 7 p.m., and shut down service between Richmond and El Cerrito and Richmond and North Berkeley about 30 minutes later. Only the Richmond Station remained closed late Monday.

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=142076

2 Critical after Gas Station Blast in Bulgaria

August 7, 2012, Tuesday

A gas tank exploded in a busy district of Bulgaria's northeastern city of Razgrad Monday afternoon. Photo by DarikNews

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/eight-injured-in-oman-gas-explos...

• Image Credit:
• Caption: Leakage in centralised piped gas supply at Muscat Oasis ripped open a number of apartments on two floors today morning.

Article continues below

http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/explosion-at-a-cambridge-gas-station-1....

Canada

Explosion at a Cambridge gas station

Photos

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/08/13/Chinese-gas-blast...

Chinese gas blast kills one, hurts nine

As this is a serious situation with mandatory evacuations, I thought it neccessary to post here.  It's a wait and see game with devastating consequences.  The people who refuse to leave are being contacted by police to collect their next of kin information.

http://www.examiner.com/article/sinkhole-h-bomb-explosion-equivalen...

The White House remains silent on the situation

Potential butane explosive capacity calculated

The 1.5 million barrels of liquid butane 1500 feet from the sinkhole has an explosive capacity of 100 Hiroshima nuclear bombs, 1.5 times the explosive force of the largest thermonuclear weapon in current service in the U.S., according to Wikipedia scientific data and popular citizen reporter, Dutchsince, and confirmed by Dupré's sources this weekend.

Excluding secondary oil and gas pipeline and refinery explosions, direct effects of such a single bomb blast in Bayou Corne, fifty miles from Baton Rouge, would include Donaldsonville, Louisiana, according to NUKEMAP simulations showing an H-bomb this size would produce:

"Fire-ball radius: (central orange circle): 0.62 km / 0.39 mi. Maximum size of the nuclear fireball; relevance to lived effects depends on height of detonation.

"Air blast radius: 3.8 km / 2.1 mi (red shaded circle) 20 psi overpressure; heavily built concrete buildings are severely damaged or demolished; fatalities approach 100%

"Air blast radius: 8.93 km / 5.55 mi (gray shaded circle) 4.6 psi overpressure; most buildings collapse; injuries universal, fatalities widespread.

"Thermal radiation radius: 15.18 km / 9.43 mi (outer orange shaded circle) Third-degree burns to all exposed skin; starts fires in flammable materials, contributes to firestorm if large enough."

Note: Butane explosion effects would differ from H-bomb effects two ways: 1) It would take much longer and have insignificant radiation damage; 2) Temperatures reached would be lower, so the fireball, thermal radiation, and air blast radii would be smaller, but all three longer-lasting.

Breathing butane is hazardous. In the unlikely case that the butane was released but not ignited, Wikipedia explains butane properties as: “Inhalation of butane can cause euphoria, drowsiness, narcosis, asphyxia, cardiac arrhythmia, temporary memory loss and frostbite, which can result in death from asphyxiation and ventricular fibrillation.

Government and non-government organizations have different speculations about disaster source

Friday, Louisiana State Police, Assumption Parish Police Jury, and Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office leaders spoke in Pierre Part about the Bayou Corne area disaster, saying they don't know its cause that has resulted in evacuees unable to return home for at least another month.

Officials uncertain what caused the sinkhole suspect Texas Brine Company LLC's salt cavern. Dr. Madhurendu Kumar, DNR director of the state's oil and gas division, said the sinkhole could have been caused by structural problems in Texas Brine's salt dome beneath it.

“The wall of salt between the brine cavern and the salt dome might be thinner than experts were led to believe," Kumar said, according to Associated Press.

As government officials continue focusing on the brine cavern and sinkhole, non-government environmentalists and human rights defenders say the disaster root is neither cavern or sinkhole.

LEAN explained late last week why they believe Texas Brine's salt cavern near the sinkhole is not the source of the problem that has caused gas bubbles percolate in the swampland and bayous for over two months.

USGS maps show extra movement and stress from oil and gas operations are susceptible to present pressure of a series of earthquakes west of Louisiana, each being where fracking and frack waste injection storage are ongoing.

(Watch "8/11/2012 -- Louisiana Sink Hole Explained -- POSSIBLE HUGE CATASTROPHE -- 100 Hiroshimas" YouTube video by Dutchsinse embedded on the left of this page.)

"This is extremely serious," Kim Torres, spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Preparedness, told ABCNews.com Friday. "The people are very aware of how serious this is."

Among the majority of residents worrying but choosing to not abide by the mandatory evacuation orders, local resident Mr. Landry told CNN Friday, “We kind of feel that if something drastic were to happen, we could jump in a car and get out of here."

The White House has remained silent about Louisiana's most recent oil and gas disaster.

Paul Brown, Ph.D., contributed to this article.

Other sources: ABC News, CNN, Fox News, Dutchsince, Nukemap, Examiner.com

See related articles by this author:

Sinkhole: DNR alerted weeks ago, could have been prevented, company says

Gov. Jindal’s DNR official resigns amid Sinkhole Disaster, State of Emergency

Sinkhole cavern is not gas bubbles source, environmentalists say

DNR demands Texas Brine drill near sinkhole, Again promises to come clean

Bayou Corne sinkhole 10 to 20 feet larger, 'No natural radioactive ...

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Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 10:29 AM

http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Propane-explosion-damages-Was...

Propane explosion damages Washington Town Hall

Updated 9:54 p.m., Sunday, August 19, 2012

WASHINGTON -- Officials said the hope to reopen Bryan Memorial Town Hall In Washington Depot on Monday after an explosion caused by a gas leaking from a propane tank that was damaged when a car drove over it early Sunday.

Washington Fire Chief Mark Showalter said several firefighters escaped serious injury when the vapor cloud that infiltrated the building ignited just before they entered the basement to turn off an emergency generator prior to cutting power to the town hall.

The explosion blew out at least a half-dozen of the large, original, arched windows and caused an undetermined amount of internal damage to the stately, Depression-era structure, officials said.

Showalter said a fire did not erupt.

First Selectman Mark Lyon said the leak was triggered about 1 a.m. Sunday when a catering company worker drove over a filler pipe for the 1,000-gallon tank buried in the lawn while cleaning up after a wedding.

The tank, which supplies an emergency generator, immediately began leaking and gas quickly entered the building through open doors and windows, Lyon said.

Lyon said the driver, whose name wasn't available Sunday evening, had the "presence of mind" to set off a fire alarm outside the building and get other catering employees out of the building before firefighters arrived.

A heavy cloud of gas settled over the low-lying area off Route 109 and firefighters wanted Connecticut Light & Power to cut the electricity supply to reduce chances for a blast, Showalter said.

But first, it was necessary to enter the building and switch off the generator, which is designed to start automatically when the power goes off, he said.

Firefighters were about to go in when "something in the boiler room" apparently sparked the explosion, he said.

Firefighters from several area departments, including Sharon, Cornwall and Northville, responded to the mutual-aid call, but because the car remained stuck on the pipe, they were unable to move it and cap the tank, Lyon said.

For hours, all they could do was cordon off the building at the intersection of Route 109 and Bryan Memorial Plaza, and direct a heavy mist of water from a fire hose to disperse the gas, Showalter said.

About 1 p.m., the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection dispatched a contractor with expertise in controlling propane leaks. He formulated a plan by which firefighters, working under a heavy spray of water, would use a bucket loader to lift the car off the pipe while he installed a valve that would allow the tank to be emptied by a controlled burn-off, Showalter said.

By 4 p.m., the last of the gas was gone. Firefighters cleared the scene some 30 minutes later.

Lyon said state and local fire marshals were still at town hall early Sunday evening trying to determine what caused the explosion. The town's building official has inspected the building and pronounced it "structurally sound," he said.

Power to the area around town hall has been restored, although the building itself remains without electricity.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to get in there Monday morning and get it open sometime during the day," Lyon said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19364696

24 August 2012 Last updated at 11:10 ET

Homes evacuated after Radcliffe explosion

Sixty firefighters were dealing with the fire at its height. Video courtesy of Simon Conway

About 100 homes had to be evacuated after a large fire and explosion at a disused industrial building in Greater Manchester.

Fire crews were called at 21:45 BST on Thursday after reports of smoke in Bury Road, Radcliffe.

During the fire's early stages, an explosion was reported after a gas main ignited and caused part of the building to collapse.

Residents in about 20 properties are still waiting to return to their homes.

Fire crews worked with National Grid to safely isolate the gas pipe.

Sixty firefighters were dealing with the disused factory fire at its height.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

We heard all these bangs going off like fireworks”

Hannah Ross Resident

Residents were relocated to an emergency rest centre set up by police and Bury Council.

A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said there had been no reports of anyone being missing or injured.

He said: "There was a small explosion, enough to cause some damage to the building.

"Crews are now damping down the scene and allowing residents to return to their homes wherever possible."

The residents waiting to return to their homes are from properties directly facing the fire, with fire crews expected to remain at the scene until Friday night.

One witness described it as a "massive explosion... just like a film".

'Massive explosion'

The fire in the building measuring about 120m (400ft) by 80m (250ft) was brought under control in the early hours of Friday.

Hannah Ross, one of those evacuated from flats nearby, said: "I was at home with my boyfriend when we heard all these bangs going off like fireworks.

Fire crews were expected to remain at the scene until Friday night

"We looked out at the factory behind the flats and saw a massive fire - it was biggest fire I've ever seen, covering the whole factory.

"We went downstairs and outside. People were talking about their cars getting hot because of the fire."

She said they were asked to leave the building by police.

"Later there was a massive explosion - and everyone jumped, just like a film," said Ms Ross.

Greater Manchester Police said a joint fire service and police investigation into the cause of the fire was taking place.

Thank you miguel.

* Explosion at oil refinery in Venezuela leaves 26 dead, more than 80... [Newser. com]

http://www.newser.com/article/da0smhcg1/explosion-at-oil-refinery-i...

* Amuay - Wikipedia

Amuay (Spanish pronunciation: [aˈmwai]) is a fishing town located in the Paraguana Peninsula, in Falcón state, Venezuela. It is a natural bay, also has a fishing port and the bigger part of the Paraguana Refinery Complex (the largest oil refinery in the world - 940.000 barrels per day (149.4481 m³/d)) is located there.

This natural bay was extended to supply oil tankers, despites the presence of the Oil Refinery, beaches near the bay are healthy and water is crystalline. The nearest cities to Amuay are Judibana and Punto Fijo.

* Paraguana Refinery Complex - Wikipedia

The Paraguaná Refinery Complex (Spanish: Centro de Refinación de Paraguaná) is a crude oil refinery located in the Venezuelan state Falcón and currently considered the world's second largest refinery complex, just after Jamnagar Refinery in India. It's the result of the fusion of Amuay Refinery, Bajo Grande Refinery and Cardón Refinery. As of 2012, it refines 955 thousand barrels per day (151,800 m³/d). The complex is located in a shared area by the Paraguaná Peninsula in Falcón state and the western coast of Lake Maracaibo in the Zulia state. This complex holds 71% of the refining capacity of Venezuela and it belongs to the state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_26/Methane-gas-explosion-kills-2-min...

The blast occurred 365 m deep underground at the mine owned by the world's largest Alrosa diamond company Saturday.

Four miners were taken to hospital, while 11 were not hurt.

http://www.wetherbynews.co.uk/news/wetherby/gas-explosion-injuries-...

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/...

Gas explosion injuries eight people at the Yorkshire Showground

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