A natural gas fire has injured two people in an area outside of Caneyville.
The Caneyville, Leitchfield, and Falls of Rough Fire Departments, Grayson County Emergency Management, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, the EPA, and Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals responded to the explosion Wednesday morning at 9:28 in the 1200 block of Lawrence Hayes Road just beyond the intersection of Log Cabin Road, approximately three-and-a-half miles southwest of Caneyville off Hwy 79.
Upon arriving, first responders discovered a fire in the rear end of a drilling truck, according to Grayson County Emergency Management. It was determined that the fire was coming from a pipe in a hole in the ground.
Firefighters immediately contained the blaze to the hole and pipe, protecting a nearby building and the front of the truck, which has diesel saddle tanks.
“A ground monitor was placed to protect the tanks from overheating,” emergency management stated. “A protective perimeter has been established for the immediate hazard zone and access is restricted to authorized personnel only.”
No residents, though, have been evacuated.
Two male workers were injured in the fire, according to Sheriff Norman Chaffins. One was airlifted from Caneyville Elementary School while the other was transported to Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center, Chaffins said.
A company from eastern Kentucky which specializes in gas fire recovery is en route to the scene to assist local officials.
While it’s likely an explosion occurred, officials have not yet made that determination.
The American Red Cross is providing hydration and food to first responders.
K105 will have more information on this story as it becomes available.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
