Atmos Energy is in the headlines again, after a suspected natural gas explosion in Dallas, Texas sent two men to the hospital early Monday morning.
Explosion Blew Out Side of Duplex, Destroyed Porch Roof
The April 2nd blast occurred around 12:45 a.m. at a duplex in the 3700 block of Spring Avenue, near Fair Park.
The force of the explosion blew out the right side of the duplex, destroyed its porch roof, and ignited a small fire that was quickly extinguished once firefighters arrived on scene.
“I was using the restroom when I heard… well first of all the ceiling collapsed then I heard a loud boom. I came out of the bathroom seen that half of the roof was gone. We got out,” Willie Rocker, a resident of the duplex, told Fox 4 News.
Two Duplex Residents Taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital
Two men – Wayne Lundrum and Kelly McFarland – were taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital for evaluation.
Lundrum was listed in serious condition as of yesterday afternoon, while McFarland was listed in fair condition.
Rocker and another resident of the duplex escaped injury.
Latest Dallas Explosion Likely “Natural Gas Related”
Investigators have not yet concluded what caused the explosion but suspect that it was “natural gas related.”
Atmos Energy was called to the scene to shut off gas service and investigate. No signs of natural gas have been detected outside the home and no evacuations have been ordered. However, residents are being urged to remain cautious.
“If you smell natural gas please leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency line at 1-866-322-8667,” the company said in a statement.
Latest Incident Occurred 13 Miles from Fatal Atmos Energy Pipeline Explosion
Yesterday’s blast occurred about 13 miles from a northwest Dallas neighborhood that has been plagued with a series of natural gas related incidents in recent months, including the February 23rd Atmos Energy pipeline explosion that killed 12-year-old Linda Rogers, destroyed her home, and seriously injured two other members of her family.
Atmos Energy ultimately cut off gas service to more than 2,800 homes, as its crew worked frantically to replace pipelines in the area.
“Older steel pipe that is deteriorating… apparently it appears preliminarily because of a formation shift brought about by heavy rains, will be replaced by state-of-the-art, new, PVC-type pipe that is more forgiving in situations like this where there is movement,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, the county’s top administrator, said during a media briefing last month.
According to investigators from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Atmos Energy was aware of natural gas leaks in the neighborhood at least seven weeks before young Linda Rogers tragically lost her life.
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