Lincoln County pipeline blast prompts 911 calls in Nelson, surrounding counties

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019 — The fire that resulted from natural gas line explosion in Lincoln County early Thursday morning was visible over most parts of Nelson County, prompting numerous calls to 911 Dispatch.

Deputies on regular patrol Tuesday morning reported seeing the flames or the glow from the flames as far northwest as Bloomfield, as well as most parts of the rest of the county.

The New Hope Fire Department was dispatched at about 1:40 a.m. for what was reported as a “large fire” in the area of New Hope Road. Firefighters determined the fire was nowhere near New Hope Road and appeared to be somewhere southwest of Nelson County.

The explosion and fireball prompted calls to 911 dispatch services in several surrounding counties.

The explosion happened in the Moreland community of Lincoln County, located between Junction City and Hustonville. Photos and video clips of the fire were uploaded to social media by users all over the region.

One person died in the blast, and up to seven others were injured. Several individuals are missing as well, authorities said Tuesday morning.

Several homes were destroyed in the fire, and 75 residents of a nearby mobile home park were evacuated. The fires were extinguished by 8 a.m., officials reported. The fire also damaged nearby Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, stopping rail traffic through the area.

Lincoln County Emergency Management told media that the piple was a Texas Eastern transmission pipeline, a high-pressure LP gas line owned and operated by Calgary-based Enbridge. The 9,000-mile pipeline runs from the Mexican border in Texas to New York City.

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