Crews Control Pipeline Fire

FLINT — Crews responded to a pipeline fire in the Flint-Gresham area Thursday morning, according to the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office. KETK reports the line is located on County Road 178. A small portion of the road was shut down during the incident. Authorities stated the blaze began around 10:45 a.m. when contract workers were testing the line for a company interested in purchasing it. During a “hot cut operation” to combine two previously capped sections, a fire was sparked. Workers inside the hole were able to escape. The 4-inch main natural gas line was deemed no longer a threat by early afternoon. Crews were allowing the residual gas to burn off. No evacuations were ordered and no injuries occurred. A backhoe was slightly damaged by the flames.