A Blast from Natural Gas

A gas leak triggered an explosion in Springfield, Massachusetts that injured 18 people.  The explosion blew out every window within a three block radius and a 6 story apartment building was evacuated because the foundation started to buckle.  People were literally knocked off their feet by the blast and those that were injured included firefighters, policemen, gas company employees, and civilians.  According to Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, the blast was heard for miles and  it was a miracle that no one was killed.  The gas leak was located in a strip club, but thankfully everyone was had evacuated by the time it ignited.  A fire marshall told the press conference that the explosion took place 15 minutes after the gas was shut off.

A gas leak is a serious concern as you can see in the case of the explosion in Springfield.  Most people can tell a gas leak by the rotten egg odor or a hissing sound.  If someone hadn't noticed these signs in the strip club, many more people may have been injured or killed.  It is important to leave the area immediately and to not use any electrical devices that could trigger the gas to ignite. It is important for pipes to be checked for leaks regularly by a professional.  Also it is essential for land use planning, that buildings or houses are not to built over natural gas pipelines.

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