Appomattox, VA—At 7:47 a.m. on Sunday morning, a gas pipeline ruptured causing an explosion along Oakville Road (Highway 26), approximately two miles outside of Appomattox. The explosion demolished two brick homes, strewed rubble on Oakville Road, and singed the grass in a nearby field (see photos).
John Mattox of the Appomattox Sheriff’s Department had been on a routine patrol on Log Cabin Road that morning.
“I observed what appeared to be a brush fire, some sort of light smoke, consistent with a smaller type fire,” Mattox told reporters at an afternoon press conference. “Almost immediately…there was an explosion, the first of two.”
The first explosion, he recalled, was “dust and debris.” A second explosion followed 30 seconds to a minute later.
“There was a secondary explosion, what can only be described as a massive fireball,” Mattox said.
Mattox estimated that the explosion was a quarter to a half mile wide and “at least that tall.”
“The concussion of the explosion almost knocked me off my feet at a quarter [of] a mile, and you could feel the heat…,” Mattox said.
Five people were injured in the explosion.
“They are not life threatening injuries,” Vicky Phelps, the Public Information Officer for Appomattox County, said at a press conference.
Initially, officials were unsure whether other explosions were forthcoming or whether fires would spread quickly to other areas. They immediately began evacuating people from nearby homes.
When asked how individuals reacted to the evacuation, Mattox said, “They were petrified…Eyes wide open, mouth open, and…I was telling folks, ‘Just run, get in your car and run, don’t take anything, just go.’”
The Appomattox Fire Department extinguished fires resulting from the explosion and helped evacuate individuals from nearby houses.
“Basically we just kept people from going in,” Timothy Garrett of the Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department told reporters, “and put out perimeter fires.”
As a result of the explosion, Highway 26 / Oakville Road will be closed until further notice between Log Cabin Road and Phelps Branch Road; detours will be available along North Creek Road (state road 660) and Police Tower Road (state road 613).
Other people in the general area of the explosion were also evacuated, and Appomattox County High School served as a temporary emergency shelter. Red Cross officials reported that approximately 50 people had visited the shelter by 4:30 on Sunday afternoon.
“A lot of scared people,” Susan Barbour with the Red Cross said, “a lot of fortunate people—somewhat shocked…They left their houses with the clothes on their backs.”
Barbour added, “The community support has been fantastic…Food, water—donations have come in from all kinds of businesses in town.”
Williams Gas owns the pipeline and the explosion is under investigation. The investigation will include Department of Transportation and federal officials, and it is undetermined at this point how long the process will take.
“There is an ongoing investigation,” Phelps said, “and there are no further details at this time. A thorough and complete investigation will be conducted.”
Emergency vehicles were present from Appomattox along with fire and rescue personnel from Buckingham, Pamplin, Concord, Gladstone, Red House, and Amherst County. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Regional Hazmat Team were also on site.
“Appomattox County expresses its gratitude to the surrounding counties and first responders, fire departments and rescues for responding to this incident,” Bobby Wingfield, the Public Safety Director of Appomattox County, told reporters.
“The private donations from numerous organizations for feeding us and giving drinks and water and refreshments to the firemen,” Wingfield said. “It was a tremendous response from the public.”
The site of the explosion is believed to be secure, and no further gas leaks have been detected. It remained unclear, however, how long evacuees will have to remain away from their homes.
Publisher: Photo story to follow later this evening.
Publisher: Photos have been uploaded.
I understand that this incident was caused by a line hit while digging post holes. I am to understand that the person operating the auger did not survive. Can you confirm this?
There were no deaths in this explosion…amazingly. Five people incurred minor injuries, were treated and released. If someone was operating an auger, it was very early Sunday morning in the dark. Everyone was, basically, still in bed when the explosion occurred.
Not true. The pipe failed.
That is so close to where I live, yet I never heard about it until now. Thank God for my son in Az. for sending this report to me!
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[...] 7:47 a.m. on Sunday morning, a gas pipeline ruptured causing an explosion along Oakville Road (Highway 26), approximately two miles outside of [...]