Major gas fire hits Sandhill Road area ***UPDATED 5:50 P.M.***

Posted on by David Forbes

A picture of the fire, taken by local Jason Setran before he evacuated the area. Photo by Jason Setran, used with permission.

UPDATED 5:50 P.M.: News outlets on the scene, including reporters for WLOS and the Asheville Citizen-Times, are reporting that the fire is out.

UPDATED 5:38 P.M.: The Asheville Fire Department reports via Twitter that they have successfully turned off the gas fueling the fire.

A major fire from a gas line rupture hit the Sandhill Road area, erupting around 4 p.m. today. Emergency response crews have blocked off the area, and reports from both news outlets and social media tell of a huge fireball and a shockwave that shook nearby buildings. The Asheville Fire Department has warned residents to avoid the area, and is working to evacuate anyone remaining.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that locals saw 200 ft.-high flames and felt the heat from far away.

According to WLOS reporters, evacuees are going to Enka Baptist Church, and over 1,000 power outages are reported.

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2 thoughts on “Major gas fire hits Sandhill Road area ***UPDATED 5:50 P.M.***”

  1. boatrocker

    Jan. 11, 2014- 12:41am

    Authorities have been advising residents to avoid West Asheville and surrounding areas for years for tight jeans, emotionally detached irony, single speed bicycles, artisan food and lack of soul but apparently it takes a gas fire to drive that point home.

  2. RadarNC

    I really don’t understand why we don’t have a reporter in the Asheville & WNC area that has tried to do a complete story on the gas line fire.

    Did anyone consider asking the Gas company responsible, how likely is this to happen again at some other location ? How old are the gas lines ?

    Why were they buried under a heavily traveled road by heavy trucks every day ?

    How much has it cost the businesses that were forced to shutdown, and when will they be able to re-open ?

    Will the gas company reimburse the businesses and people who’s house’s were melted by the fire ?

    Or will they have to sue the gas company to received the money they need to repair their houses and cars ?

    Are there any true journalist left in Western North Carolina ?

    I know there are none at WLOS TV, or any or any of the so called “local radio” stations. How about this so called news site ?
    All I’ve seen on TV news are intern-bimbos.

    What happened to reporting a story and asking the real questions ?

    It’s truly a pathetic city for news reporting.
    If it’s not about food, beer, or music, it must not be news.

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