A natural gas transmission pipeline exploded near Willow River on Friday, shooting towering fireballs into the winter sky and forcing nearby residents out of their homes in the middle of single digit cold. The blast cut off the feed that supplies the local distribution system and left hundreds of households without heat. Authorities said there were no injuries.
Minnesota Energy Resources told customers that roughly 500 households in Willow River and Sturgeon Lake lost service after the pipeline was damaged, according to WDIO. The outage may have been even larger. The Star Tribune reported that damage to the transmission line affected about 630 customers across Willow River, Finlayson and Sturgeon Lake.
Pine County dispatchers were flooded with 911 calls between about 1:43 and 1:45 p.m. Friday, and multiple fire departments and law enforcement agencies responded and evacuated nearby addresses, CBS Minnesota reported. Northern Natural Gas said the site had been secured and that “this section of the pipeline system has been isolated,” according to WDIO.
Temporary fixes and what customers should do
Northern Natural Gas deployed trucked natural gas to supply homes and businesses while crews work to repair the damaged line, and Minnesota Energy Resources mobilized crews and contractors to begin temporary restoration efforts, according to P&GJ. While temporary service is in place, the utility asked customers to conserve fuel by keeping thermostats low, around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and to avoid using nonessential gas appliances. Crews are going house to house to turn off meters and relight pilot lights before permanent service returns, the Star Tribune reported.
Investigation and oversight
The Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety and the State Fire Marshal's divisions were sent to the site to assist with the investigation, KSTP reported. Northern Natural Gas and utility officials said they are investigating the cause and coordinating with authorities, and the damaged segment will not be returned to service until it is deemed safe, CBS Minnesota reported.
Repairs expected to take days
Because of the extent of the damage, Minnesota Energy Resources warned that full restoration could take several days, according to local reporting. Northern Natural Gas told local reporters that crews were still working on the north and south ends of the damaged segment and had not provided a firm repair timeline, Fox21 reported.
Customers still without service were asked to call Minnesota Energy Resources at 800-889-9508 for technician assistance. The company also lists a 24 hour emergency number at 800-889-4970 on its contact page. The utility is publishing updates on its website and advising customers to rely on official notices for safety and restoration information, and residents are urged to check the company's contact page for the latest guidance.
Crews and investigators remained on site as repair work continued and officials called for patience while the line is fixed. Local authorities said they will provide updates as restorations progress and urged residents to follow guidance from the utility and public safety officials.
