LARAMIE COUNTY, Wy. — A fire burned for several hours overnight west of Cheyenne, Wyoming, after a natural gas pipeline ruptured, officials said Sunday morning.
The fire was burning south of mile marker 350 on Interstate 80, west of Cheyenne, according to Laramie County Fire District #10.
The fire was first reported around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to Union Pacific. By 9 a.m., flames were extinguished with some isolated smoldering left.
The fire could be seen in parts of Larimer County, Colorado, including Loveland, overnight, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said.
Union Pacific said one of its “mixed-commodity” trains was southwest of Cheyenne when the rupture happened about 40 feet away. The heat from the fire made it too dangerous to operate over the track, a spokesperson said. There was no derailment.
Larimer County Fire District #10 said the pipeline ignited “in close proximity to rail cars carrying hazardous materials, placing responders and the surrounding area at heightened risk.”
“This was a significant and dangerous event, and we are grateful for the quick actions of our first responders and partner agencies. Their teamwork ensured the safety of the community and prevented further escalation,” Caeden Quist, Laramie County Fire District 10 Incident Commander Division Chief, said.
Kinder Morgan said the Colorado Interstate Gas Company is investigating the potential pipeline failure. The company shut off the natural gas flow to the nearby segment and notified regulatory agencies, Kinder Morgan said.
No injuries were reported. There were no road closures nor evacuations.
Fire crews remain on scene along with Union Pacific for clean-up operations. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation by the railroad and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Union Pacific says it also plans to inspect the track to determine if repairs are necessary, once firefighters give an all clear.