WINFIELD, W.Va. — A worker was burned when a natural gas line exploded at a house construction site in Putnam County on Monday afternoon.
The explosion and fire occurred after a contractor struck the four-inch line while working on the new home’s driveway.
The gas company sent Joe Tolley Contracting to repair a leak at the scene. Not long after a crew arrived, the explosion occurred, Joey Tolley told MetroNews.
“It was blowing very loudly—you couldn’t hear anything,” Tolley said. “So we were in there trying to figure out exactly what we needed to do to get it shut down and repaired, and in the midst of that it ignited somehow and one our guys got burnt.”
The worker was taken to Cabell Huntington Hospital by ambulance, appearing to have burn injuries to his arms. He was walking around, Tolley said.
Fire crews from Winfield extinguished the blaze, but there was no indication late Monday on what sparked the gas.
A backhoe-type piece of equipment was destroyed in the fire. Tolley said he’s thankful there weren’t more serious injuries.
“It could have much worse,” he said.
The house is located near the intersection of Rocky Step Road and Harmon Branch Road.