Gas line operated by Charleston office explodes in Tennessee

A massive fire erupted in Tennessee on a pipeline operated from Charleston that brings natural gas from the Louisiana Gulf Coast to the Kentucky-West Virginia border.

The fire erupted Tuesday night at the Columbia Gulf Pipeline System’s pumping station near Hartsville, Tenn. Hartsville is about 40 miles northeast of Nashville and about 370 miles southwest of Charleston.


The mayor of Westmoreland, a city about seven miles from the site, told the Associated Press that the fire started about 10 p.m. and spread to nearby houses. Casualties have been reported in Macon County, and several people are reported missing, Ricky Woodard said.

Tennessee Highway Patrol authorities also told The Associated Press there were fatalities. The wire service said it wasn’t immediately clear if they were from the fire, a strong storm that moved through the area, or both.

Charleston Daily Mail