Fire near gas line causes concern
Fire near gas line causes concern
27 December 2007
published by www.albanyherald.com
USA — A small brush fire burning near a propane pipeline that services several southeastern states was extinguished Wednesday, fire officials said.
Wednesday afternoon, firefighters responded to an address on the 3000 block of West Oakridge Drive in reference to a brush fire.
According to fire officials, when they arrived they met with the property owner and an employee of the Dixie Pipeline company who said that a pile of discarded tree limbs was burning too close to a propane gas pipeline.
According to Albany Fire Chief James Carswell, the property owner, whose name wasnt available, had an easement on his property for the pipeline, but was burning damaged tree limbs and debris near where the line was buried.
The pipeline is actually about four feet under the ground, Carswell said. The pipeline people appeared to be concerned that the property owner was burning too close to the line and may have weakened or damaged the line.
Calls made to the company, which is operated by Texas- based Enterprise Products Partners L.P, werent returned.
According to the Enterprise Products Partners web site, the 1,300 mile-long pipeline pumps 100 million barrels per day of propane from Mont Belivieu, Texas, to several southeastern states.
Carswell said that he was unaware of any damage to the pipeline but that pipeline workers were debating whether to dig and inspect that portion of the line.
