Gas pipeline explosion in Columbiana County Ohio rocks several homes in eastern Ohio

****Photo courtesy of The Morning Journal****


On Thursday, February 10, 2011 Columbiana County Ohio 9-1-1 center were flooded with calls reporting a massive explosion and fireball in the area of US 30 and State Route 9, west of Lisbon Ohio. The massive explosion shook several homes and the intense fire could be seen for miles, even as far away as Moon Township and Beaver County, Pennsylvania. There were initial concerns that a commercial aircraft may have crashed, as Greater Pittsburgh Airport received a call from Washington DC indicating a large explosion/fire northwest of the airport. Air Traffic control tower had no reports of missing planes or planes in distress.

Responding Police and Fire units reported a huge fireball at least 200 feet high in the distance. Crews arriving on the scene found it to be a gas pipeline and several wells on fire on Hanover Farms property. The pipeline is owned by Tennessee Gas Pipeline. Crews were able to get the pipeline shut down at approximately 11:30p.m. There were no injuries reported, however at least one structure sustained damage.


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Allentown gas explosion claims five lives

***Photos by Rob Kandel - The Morning Call***



On Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at approximately 10:50p.m. Allentown City communications center received several reports of an explosion in the 500-block of N.13th Street. Emergency personnel responded to find two houses completely leveled by the explosion, with other houses involved with fire and multiple exposure problems. Crews also learned that there were 6 people unaccounted for. UGI utilitility crews responded and shut off the gas to the area. Many evacuations were ordered, including the Gross Towers, a nearby senior citizen hi-rise.Evacuees were moved to the Agri-Plex at the Allentown Fairgrounds.

At this time, it appears as though the explosion was a result of a natural gas leak or a pressure build up, however the cause and source is still under investigation. Those killed in the devastating explosion include; a 79 year old male and his 74 year old wife, a 16 year old female and her 4 month old son and her 69 year old grandmother. The last body wasn't recovered from the rubble until 5:30p.m. Thursday, February 10, 2011.


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