Madison Rock Natural Gas Explosions, Wisconsin Suburbs, Level Buildings

SUN PRAIRIE, Wisconsin – A series of explosions rocked a community in Wisconsin after an entrepreneur hit a natural gas pipe in a downtown area filled with bars and restaurants. other businesses, injuring two firefighters and a police officer, according to the authorities. . CBS Madison, Wisconsin affiliate WISC-TV reports that some buildings have been razed.

First responders rushed to the scene of a reported gas leak and an evacuation was underway Tuesday, said Lt. Kevin Konopacki. He added that lives were probably saved by the evacuation, which was triggered by people feeling the smell of natural gas.

No deaths were reported and none were reported missing, but Konopacki said the buildings would be searched in the suburbs of Madison. from about 30,000 once the flames were out. Firefighters still battled the flames more than three hours after the blast.

The first powerful explosion occurred around 19:15. and sent a plume of smoke and flames in the air.

Konopacki said the firefighters were taken to the hospital, while the officer was treated on the scene. He added that some civilians had suffered minor injuries, but that no one needed to be hospitalized. He did not know the exact number of wounded civilians.

WISC says that other explosions followed:

Upon hearing more explosions, smoke grew. We said to come back from wear, we are stationed. The teams say it's no longer a safe zone. – Keely Arthur (@news3keely) 11 July 2018

WE Energies spokeswoman Amy Jahns said that a contractor's workers had apparently punctured a natural gas main 4 inches, send leaking gas into a building before the explosion. The 12 gas lines in the area were closed around 9:30 pm

The blast, about half a block from City Hall, seemed centered on the Barr House, a pub . Authorities evacuated a half-mile radius and set up a shelter at Sun Prairie High School.

Steve Owen, 60, owner of Sun City Cyclery and Skates in downtown Sun Prairie, said he saw firefighters and police on the street. the explosion has arrived. He said that the building in front of his store "literally raised."

He said that the force of the explosion overturned him in his chair and that he ran out and saw a fireball.

Owen, who lives at the top of his shop, says: "Jill Thompson, 56, who lives about two blocks from where the blast occurred, says, "It shook the whole building. saw the smoke immediately. "