http://www.tampabayonline.net/news/news1022.htm

Natural gas explosion near Plainwell, fire can be seen for miles

PLAINWELL, Mich. (AP) - A natural gas line ruptured Sunday in a rural area north of Kalamazoo, causing an explosion that was felt for miles.

There were no reports of injuries and the cause was unknown, according to Consumers Energy, a utility company.

The explosion happened about 7:30 p.m. and the glow from the fire lit up the sky for two hours.

Three miles from the scene, 70-year-old Aubrey Nicholson was watching television when the flickering of their lights gave way to a loud roar that rattled the house.

``It sounded like a jet,'' Nicholson said. ``The whole sky was lit up. It was a pink glow, and once in while there'd be a huge mushroom ball go up.''

In his home just a mile from the explosion, Roy Livingston was working on his computer when - out of the corner of his eye - he saw a bright flash through a picture window.

``It looked like a bomb went off,'' said Livingston, 34. ``I saw it mushroom up and everything. I thought it was a nuclear bomb.''

The fire was out about three hours later, and utility workers were on the scene to isolate the line and pinpoint what caused the explosion.

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 08, 1999

Answers

Link

<:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), March 08, 1999.

The link information provided above doesn't appear to be correct. It takes you to a bio page on Joe DiMaggio.

I'd take time to research the proper link but I'm headed out the door for work....

Later gang.

Dan

-- Dan (DanTCC@Yahoo.com), March 08, 1999.

I don't have time, but it would be interesting to research the number of explosions in various industries for (say) 1990-1995. I'd guess it's a lot higher than you'd imagine. There are specialists who make a fairly regular living sorting out the prize examples in the oil industry!

If so, this is what I've seen referred to as "the red pickup truck effect" (You never notice red pickup trucks, then you buy one yourelf and start noticing them everywhere). We're sensitized by Y2K to such reports, and they're getting wider coverage as a result.

FWIW when I was a kid, my dad warned me off standing about near to a power substation; he'd been in hospital next to someone who was doing that when it blew up. I remembered this when, a few years ago, the power substation just down the corridor from me blew. Not a newsworthy bang, but the chap standing outside had to dance around as globules of molten copper rolled round his feet! (He wasn't hurt, just scared).

-- Nigel Arnot (nra@maxwell.ph.kcl.ac.uk), March 08, 1999.

Nigel,

I too think that study would be interesting. I also tend to agree about the red pickup truck theory, however, someone (forget who) requested posting new 'explosion' stories, they are trying to compile a list, I was simply trying to be helpful.

I think I'm going to look for an existing study...(although who would have funded it, I don't know... National Association of Solar Energy?! I don't think I'll be able to find one.

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 08, 1999.

Here's an updated link:

BOOM!

Gas explosion in Michigan visible for miles; Philadelphia blast

PLAINWELL, Mich. (AP) - An explosion caused by a ruptured natural gas line ignited a fire that could be seen for 20 miles in a rural area of southwestern Michigan.

There were no reports of injuries and the cause of the rupture Sunday evening was unknown, according to Consumers Energy, a utility company.

The glow from the fire lit up the sky north of Kalamazoo for two hours.

``It looked like a bomb went off,'' said Roy Livingston, who lives a mile from the site. ``I saw it mushroom up and everything. I thought it was a nuclear bomb.''

In Philadelphia on Sunday, investigators said a gas leak probably led to an early-morning explosion that destroyed three homes and injured eight people. Hospital spokesmen said most of the injured were in stable condition.

Crews used heavy machinery to remove large rubble and then dug through smaller debris with their hands.

The blast woke neighbors with a noise like thunder, scattering blankets, sheets and other debris into trees. Homes on the block were evacuated and Red Cross officials set up a shelter nearby.

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 08, 1999.

And what, pray tell, does this have to do with Y2K?

-- Relevant to Y2K? (what@stretch.thisis), March 08, 1999.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), March 08, 1999.

All I can say is that I hope the recent rash of accidents has been related to y2k testing, cause if this is how problematic utilities are in normal time, y2k is gonna be a real bitch.

-- a (a@a.a), March 08, 1999.

"And what, pray tell, does this have to do with Y2K?"

Pick one:

Another example that we are all being lied to;

The gas companies are doing secret research;

The gas companies are not Y2K compliant and instead of doing the work they are blowing up all the computers;

The NWO army are practising herding sheeple into compounds; or

Dont ask, when in doubt just remember, It's Bill and Hillary's fault!

-- Flanagan (terry@consultink.com), March 08, 1999.

With all the happy talk going around and the talking heads on TV laughing at y2k it's real easy to forget that y2k could actually kill kill people. These gas explosions are a nice little reminder...

-- Gambler (reno@dice.com), March 08, 1999.

Nigel, I've done a search with several engines to see if there was such a statistic somewhere on the web, so far after looking for over an hour, no luck.

I found this link, which is a great source for research on the gov., it lists all the links to the gov. agency sites U.S. Federal Government Agencies Directory

Haven't been able yet to find statistics on plant explosions there yet either, maybe you guys could give it a try too.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), March 08, 1999.

Probably the Occupational Safety and Health Admin (OSHA) keeps statistics on these things... although maybe not publicly.

-- Lisa (lisa@.work.today), March 08, 1999.

I grew up in south philly not more than two miles (as the crow flies) from oil refineries. There were numerous fires lasting sometimes weeks at those plants. It was very common place. Yeah, I guess everything is related to Y2K because Y2K is so interconnected with our world.

I also loved the connection between solar flares and Y2K, and disease epidemics, and ...

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), March 08, 1999.

TO THE @#$#%@! WHO HAD TO RESPOND IN SUCH AN IGNORANT MANNER TO THE POSTED ITEMS; IF YOU READ MY RESPONSE, YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS:

"someone (forget who) REQUESTED posting new 'explosion' stories, they are trying to compile a list, I was simply trying to be helpful."

WHY DON'T YOU GET A GRIP & CONTRIBUTE SOMTHING USEFUL.

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 08, 1999.

P.S.

To all of the wonderful people who contributed constructive thoughts & ideas....THANK YOU!!!

Chris,

I haven't found anything yet either, but I'm not giving up yet. Thanks again, Lisa & others.

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 09, 1999.

IT IS USEFUL TO SHOW YOU HOW RIDICULOUS IT IS TO THINK THESE EXPLOSIONS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH Y2K!

Gas explosions are fairly common. Pipes freeze and thaw and leaks happen.

-- @#$#%@! (@#$#%@!@@#$#%@!.@#$#%@!), March 09, 1999.

AND DIMWITS FROM SOUTH PHILLY LIKE TROLL MARIA ARE IN Y2K MANAGEMENT!

-- @#$#%@! (@#$#%@!@@#$#%@!.@#$#%@!), March 09, 1999.

(sigh)

I really hate to do this because I am not at all convinced that they do have anything to do with y2k, but since you said:

"IT IS USEFUL TO SHOW YOU HOW RIDICULOUS IT IS TO THINK THESE EXPLOSIONS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH Y2K!"

If you would like to show us, why don't you provide statistics to back up your opinion (including sources of course).

If you cannot do so, then you may need to clarify your position as OPINION rather than FACT.

I am willing to accept data leaning in either direction, are you?

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 09, 1999.

"I am willing to accept data leaning in either direction, are you?"

Wow, that's more than can be said for most of the posters here. Congratulations.

-- alright (way@to.go), March 09, 1999.

I live about 20 miles from Plainwell, MI. The explosion and damage to the power lines caused lights to flicker for about 10-20 minutes at my home.

More to the point, I found a reference to a GAO report done in 1992 that was paraphrased as saying "every year, several hundred pipline incidents, such as ruptures and leakages, occur, often resulting in death and damage to property or the environment".

Apparently quoting from the report, "in the years 1985 to 1991 there were 1,726 incidents reported, resulting in 131 fatalities and 634 injuries. Accidents occur throughout the production cycle"<

The source of these quotes was at: http://www1.shore.net/~gfwa/page24.html

I was not able to find the GAO report during a short search.

Hope this helps.

-- Jon Williamson (jwilliamson003@sprintmail.com), March 09, 1999.

Deborah,

Don't worry about the flamers...just ignore..they may not go away but it sure helps the blood pressure! Keep posting...maybe one of them will be related...:>

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), March 09, 1999.