Las Vegas natural gas line catches fire after backhoe accident
Steve Marcus
Officials monitor a natural gas fire in a residential neighborhood in Summerlin Tuesday, July 26, 2016. The fire was apparently started when backhoe hit a natural gas line during construction.
By Sun Staff
Published Tuesday, July 26, 2016 | 12:27 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, July 26, 2016 | 3:56 p.m.
A backhoe hit a natural gas line in a residential neighborhood today, sparking an intense blaze that firefighters allowed to burn until the gas could be shut off, according to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue officials.
Fire department spokesman Tim Szymanski said the fire was “extremely intense,” and the first concern was that the radiant heat would set nearby houses on fire. Firefighters sprayed water on the houses to keep them from catching fire, he said.
The fire was reported about 11:45 a.m. on Acacia Tree Drive at Anasazi Drive, not far from John W. Bonner Elementary School. Up to 90 people were evacuated, officials said.
No houses were involved, and nobody was injured, officials said.
The backhoe was digging in the street when it ruptured a gas main, officials said. Details of who was operating the machinery was not immediately released.
Gas was shut off to the area by about 1:30 p.m., and firefighters stood by as the remainder of the gas in the line burned off, officials said.
Metro Police said officers assisted with traffic control and evacuations. Streets in the area were closed.
Southwest Gas was investigating the incident.