A major fire erupted late Monday afternoon near a fuel pipeline near Birmingham, Ala., not far from the site of a leak in early September that disrupted gasoline supply across the region.
Colonial Pipeline said it “shut down its mainlines” in the area because of the fire, but it was not immediately clear how long that might last or whether the situation will affect supply or prices.
Al.com reported that fire departments from across the Birmingham area responded to a report of a gas line explosion in Shelby County.
The website, citing public safety radio reports, said seven people were severely burned. Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego said Colonial subcontractors were working on a line and an explosion occurred as they began to dig, Al.com reported.
Alpharetta-based Colonial Pipeline is the same company involved in the September incident.
A spokesman could not be reached but Colonial released the following statement, according to WIAT in Birmingham:
“Colonial has shut down its mainlines in Shelby County, Ala., after reports of a fire on its right of way. Colonial personnel and emergency crews are responding.
Colonial’s top priorities are the health and safety of the work crew on site and protection of the public.
More information will be posted on www.colpipe.com as it becomes available and is confirmed.”
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said, “It appears to have been an accident, and they’re allowing fuel to burn. It’s about one mile west of where the repair took place on the Colonial Pipeline just recently.”
Any prolonged shutdown would be a problem for metro Atlanta, crimping gasoline supplies and potentially bumping prices higher, said Patrick DeHaan, an energy expert with Gas Buddy, in a post on Twitter.
“Still very early and difficult to tell,” he wrote.
Staff writer Michael Kanell contributed to this report.
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