Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
At 7:19 p.m., Salem Fire/Rescue units are responding to a report of a gas main break and fire in the 26800 block of 104th Place. Units are coming from all Salem Fire/Rescue stations.
UPDATE 7:22 p.m. — Dispatch reports that someone was burning leaves in area of fire, which somehow caught the gas main on fire. We Energies has been contacted.
UPDATE 7:26 p.m. — Westbound traffic being shut down on 104th Place being shut down.
UPDATE 7:31 p.m. — Remaining Salem units still responding told by dispatch to respond non-emergency.
UPDATE 7:35 p.m. — Dispatch reports fire department plans to let fire continue to burn until We Energies can shut off line.
UPDATE 7:56 p.m. — We Energies estimated time of arrival is about two minutes, dispatch reports.
UPDATE 8:34 p.m. — All Salem units clear of the scene.
UPDATE Oct. 13 — From Salem Fire/Rescue Chief David “Mike” Slover: “Homeowner was burning leaves in ditch line and had finished up by spreading the leaves out in the ditch line so they would burn out. I don’t know where the owner was when the gas ignited, I think inside his home. The approximately 3†gas line buried in the ditch line was approximately 18 inches below the surface. According to the homeowner there was a small sinkhole and/or washout there. Apparently burning leaves fell into there and melted the top of the gas line. Thankfully no injuries and no dollar loss to private property. WE Energies had the gas line secured approximately 1 hour after our notification.”
