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Lightning causes natural gas fire


Lightning caused an unusual situation Sunday, June 17, striking a tree at a Kennedy Drive residence and causing a gas leak.
According to the Mobridge Police report, it was reported at 1:49 a.m. that lightning struck a large evergreen tree at the Bob and Barb Zerr residence and the tree was on fire.
Bob Zerr said the strike sounded like an explosion and the entire yard lit up. Officers were the first to arrive at the scene and tried to extinguish the flames but were unsuccessful, according to Zerr.
When the Mobridge Volunteer Fire Department arrived on the scene, they were able to determine it was natural gas that was burning.
According to MDU Area Manager Bruce Brekke, the lightning that struck the tree found its way to the locate wire that is connected to the plastic service pipe damaging the pipe.
“We are not sure how it got to the locate wire but it did,” said Brekke. “In the 25 years we have had natural gas service in this area this is the first time lightning has gotten to the locate wire.”
He said there was a hole burned into the service pipe and the gas was escaping.
“When there is a release of natural gas we want the fire to burn until we can get it shut off,” said Brekke. “The fire lets us know where the leak is.”
Brekke said three customers were impacted by the interruption of service, but were back online by 10 a.m. on Sunday.
“Before we dig we have to call in to the emergency locate process just like we ask our customers to do,” he said. “We have to follow protocol.”
There was no damage to the Zerr home although the large evergreen was a total loss.
– Katie Zerr –

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