1 hurt in fire from ruptured gas line near new home construction in Springfield

UPDATE @ 4:10 p.m.: A construction worker suffered a burn injury in the fire that erupted in a gas line on Secretariat Drive when a crew using a walk-behind trencher hit the line.

The worker suffered a first-degree burn but did not require a trip to a hospital, fire officials said.

The fire occurred about 3 p.m. and a Columbia Gas crew is making repairs, said Dave Rau, communication manager. The ruptured line is between an existing home and a new residential construction. Crews quickly extinguished the fire in about 20 minutes.

There are an estimated 91 customers who will be without service in the 300 block of Secretariat Drive, as well as some on Roscommon Drive and Kilkenny Court and Prestwick Village Circle, for several hours, Rau said.

Once the repair is made, technicians will go to each home to relight appliances, Rau said.

They will need to get into the homes, he said, so he's asking customers to "leave the porch light on" so technicians know which homes need the gas service re-established.

"We want to make sure our customers are on the lookout for our technicians," Rau said.

UPDATE @ 3:14 p.m.:

A gas line is on fire this afternoon near a home under construction on Secretariat Drive in Springfield.

Firefighters were seen dousing a nearby house with water.

Columbia Gas also just arrived on the scene and was working to address the issues.

A piece of construction equipment is in the area of the fire, however it was not immediately clear if a construction crew was responsible for striking the gas line.

INITIAL REPORT:

Firefighters are on the scene of a reported fire on Secretariat Drive in Springfield, according to initial reports.

Initial dispatch reports indicated a gas line possibly ruptured in the area and may be on fire, however those reports have not been confirmed by authorities.

The fire was reported around 2:50 p.m.

We’re working to learn more.

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