Gas line explodes in busy area; no injuries

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS

A major natural-gas line exploded Thursday outside a large Minneapolis supermarket, spewing flames skyward just 100 yards from a busy freeway and snarling rush-hour traffic but injuring nobody in what fire officials called an amazing stroke of luck.

The blast and fire scorched parked vehicles and opened a large hole in the street near the entrance to a Cub Foods store. Homes and businesses in an eight-block area surrounding the fire were evacuated for several hours, and Assistant Fire Chief Cherie Penn said the outcome might have been worse.

Streams of people, some in pajamas carrying children, walked away from the scene shortly after the midmorning explosion. They were allowed to return home by midday.

The explosion happened so close to the interchange of Interstate 35W and Highway 62 that the highways were closed for several hours until the gas line was shut off about 10:30 a.m. One section of the interstate remained closed longer as it was inspected for damage before being pronounced safe.

Cars in the parking lot were scorched in the blast, some leaning because both tires on one side had melted. Melted red plastic hung from the Cub Foods sign.

It was a major trunk gas line for that section of Minneapolis, and state pipeline safety officials were on the scene, said Rebecca Virden, a spokeswoman for CenterPoint Energy. She said it was too early to determine the cause.