5 Tennessee utility workers injured in gas line explosion and fire

5 Tennessee utility workers injured in gas line explosion and fire

November 25, 2014

MEMPHIS, TN — Five utility workers have been injured in a gas line explosion and fire in Memphis.

Fire Department spokesman Wayne Cooke says three Memphis Light, Gas & Water workers suffered critical wounds, and two others had less severe injuries. He said the workers were called out to a residential area on Tuesday morning to fix a gas leak and were working on it when the line exploded and caught fire.

Four workers suffered burns, three of whom were hospitalized in critical condition, Cooke said. A worker with minor burns and a worker who went into shock were treated and released from the hospital.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.

Police say no evacuation was ordered because the incident was contained. The underground line was located along a street.

Memphis Light, Gas and Water spokesman Richard Thompson said the company was investigating the cause.

“I believe there was a spark and it led to an explosion," Thompson said. "What exactly happened, we are still trying to determine.”

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5 MLGW workers injured in gas line fire

SHELBY COUNTY, TN (WMC) -

Five MLGW workers were taken to the hospital after a gas line exploded on Winterpark Drive near Margaux Cove.

Three people are in critical condition; two others were taken to the hospital in non-critical condition, according to Memphis Fire Department.

The workers were repairing a 2 1/2 inch underground gas line when it exploded, sending flames out of the manhole.

"Quite bad, kinda horrific," said Randy Smith, who lives five houses down from where it happened. "There was actually guys down in the hole. One of the MLGW workers, he was attempting to pull one of his coworkers out the hole. At the same time, there was another trying to crawl himself out the hole."

Even though houses on the street were not damaged and nobody living nearby was injured, it was a scene that neighbors will never forget.

"This really was a bad sight,” Smith said. “I hate I saw that. I mean, it's not every day you see grown men crying and calling for their mamas. My thoughts and prayers go out to their family."

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MLGW Workers Injured In Gas Line Explosion In Hickory Hill

(VIDEO) Shock, flames, and cries of pain. That is what neighbors witnessed after a gas line explosion in Hickory Hill. Five MLGW workers were hurt in the blast on Winter Park Drive Tuesday morning.

They were working on an underground gas line when something went wrong. "They were working to repair a 2.5 inch underground gas line," said Lt. Wayne Cooke of the Memphis Fire Department. Witnesses came running to see what exactly happened. They said they could hear the victims' screams from several yards away. "We saw the three guys they were pulling out of the hole. It was terrible, it was bad," said witness Sylvester Whitaker.

"It was pretty bad. We had guys really burning, on fire, crying, calling mom, calling loved ones. Just a bad situation all around," said witness Randy Smith. Memphis firefighters are investigating what caused the explosion. Officials with MLGW said the work being done by the crew isn't unusual. "I know they were employees who were doing their job, and basically, who do this kind of work every day. But they are trained. They are experienced. If they weren't, they wouldn't be doing their job," said MLGW spokesperson Gale Jones Carson.

But for those in the Hickory Hill neighborhood, it was something they all will never forget. Two of the MLGW workers have been released from the hospital. Three others are still being treated. All three are suffering from burns. Two of the workers are in critical condition. We are told the third is not as badly injured, but we don't know his condition. Family members said Sedric Fields was one of the men hurt. They said he has serious burns. He is awake and talking to doctors, but as of an hour ago his family has not been able to see him.