Collierville became a spectacle of emergency response as a significant fire broke out on Monday night, believed to be caused by a lightning strike to an 8-inch gas main. Upon the rupture, Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) crews rushed to assess and address the incident, working through the night. According to WREG, the flames erupted in the 1900 block of Bailey Woods Drive.
The fire, reported just before 8:30 p.m., drew immediate attention from Collierville Police who confirmed the incident and traced it to a gas line on Bailey Station Road, stretching between Winchester Road and Houston Levee Road. Emergency services promptly closed the road, and while the fire was allowed to burn itself out, Local Memphis reported that power outages affected Central Church and other nearby businesses.
A ruptured gas line has caused a fire on Bailey Station Road between Winchester Road and Houston Levee Road. Emergency services are on-site addressing the situation. The road is blocked until further notice. pic.twitter.com/lfazs02wn7
— Collierville Police Department (@colliervillepd) December 17, 2024
No injuries have been reported in the wake of the blaze, which subsided around two hours after it began. Although the fire was contained, MLGW has emphasized their commitment to restoring both the gas main and electrical service as swiftly as possible. "The road will remain blocked a little longer as Collierville Fire & Rescue checks the area further," said a statement from Collierville Police obtained by Local Memphis.
As the community awaits the re-opening of Bailey Station Road, MLGW officials continue their assessment of the damages incurred. They suspect that the lightning strike was at the heart of the event, echoing an account by FOX13 Memphis.
