A ruptured gas line triggered an explosion in Lubbock, Texas, yesterday afternoon, severely damaging one home and forcing residents of nearby structures to flee the area.
30+ Homes Evacuated After Atmos Energy Gas Line Ruptures
The Lubbock Fire Department was called to the 3300 block of 89th Street shortly before 3:00 p.m. on March 10th. According to Atmos Energy, a third party was digging in the alley behind the home and struck a 2-inch gas line, causing it to rupture. The house exploded approximately one hour after fire crews arrived on the scene.
Fortunately, the severely damaged home was vacant at the time, and no injuries were reported. However, residents of 35 nearby homes were told to evacuate the area as a precaution.
Firefighters had the resulting fire contained by 5:45 p.m., preventing its spread to other buildings. Atmos Energy restored utility service to the area by 8:40 p.m., and evacuees were able to return to their homes.
Atmos Energy Explosions in Texas
Yesterday’s massive explosion was just the latest disturbing incident involving an Atmos Energy gas line in Texas. In fact, according to the Dallas Morning News, more than two dozen homes across the state have blown up since 2006 due to leaks along the company’s lines. At least nine Texans have died in these incidents, and more than 20 have been hurt.
Most recently, in September 2021, an explosion at an Atmos Energy site in Collin County, Texas, tragically killed two contractors and put two others in the hospital.
In February 2018, another ruptured Atmos pipeline triggered an explosion that destroyed a North Dallas home and tragically killed a 12-year-old girl as she was getting ready for school. The Texas Railroad Commission later blamed Atmos Energy’s failure to detect pipeline leaks in the days, months, and even hours before the blast for her death.
One month before that deadly incident, migrating natural gas ignited the furnace pilot light in an Irving home just before dawn on New Year’s Day. The devastating explosion destroyed the building, and the family sleeping inside barely escaped with their lives. It was later learned that Atmos crews had been on the scene for about eight hours after residents reported a strong smell of gas the night before. Yet despite the apparent danger, crew members repeatedly said there was no need to evacuate the area.
What to Do After a Gas Line or Pipeline Explosion
After a devastating explosion, pipeline operators will do anything to avoid responsibility and pay you and your family as little as possible for your injuries and financial losses, including:
- Destroying or “losing” critical evidence proving the operator was at fault
- Seeking conflicting statements from coworkers or “outside experts” in an effort to blame the victims and avoid responsibility
- Attempting to limit the injured employee’s recovery to workers’ compensation benefits
- Hiring private investigators to follow, photograph, record video, and monitor the social media posts of injured workers and their families
- Pressuring victims to accept an inadequate settlement offer or participate in a mass claims process that requires surrendering your right to recover your full damages from the company
To avoid a mistake that could cost you and your family millions of dollars, it’s important that you avoid speaking with the pipeline company’s claims adjuster, providing a recorded statement, or signing anything until you’ve had a chance to talk with an experienced Pipeline Explosion Lawyer with a history of successfully representing explosion victims against the largest corporations in the world.
Undefeated Dallas Pipeline Explosion Lawyers with Billions Won: Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here for a Free Consult.
Having won Billions in connection with the worst pipeline and industrial disasters in recent history, our Undefeated Pipeline Explosion Lawyers don’t just win; we consistently recover Record-Breaking Verdicts and Settlements for our clients and their families, including the #1 Largest Individual Burn Settlement in U.S. History and the largest verdicts and settlements in Texas and our opponents’ corporate history.
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If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed in connection with a pipeline explosion or accident, please contact our Experienced Texas Explosion Attorneys for a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or click here to send us a confidential email through our “Contact Us” form.
All consultations are free, and because we work for a contingency fee, you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.