05/21/2009

Associated Press

A break in a natural gas pipeline sparked a fire visible for miles in central Missouri late Wednesday. Authorities in Howard County say there were no injuries and no reports of property damage.

The rupture occurred sometime after 9 p.m. in a rural part of the county just north of Rocheport. Crews from Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. shut off lines in the area, and firefighters had the blaze under control by about 11:30 p.m.

Officials say the nearest home was more than a half-mile from where the pipeline ruptured. About a half-dozen families were evacuated in the area. They were allowed to go home within three hours.