A pipeline explosion forced the entire town of Milford, Texas, to evacuate Thursday after a Chevron crew punctured a 10-inch line.
Company spokesman Justin Higgs said the line is used to
move liquefied petroleum gas, The Associated Press reported.
No injuries were reported.
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According to Business Insider, the oil company issued a statement shortly after the explosion: “At approximately 9:30 a.m. (CST) today, there was an incident at a Chevron pipeline near Milford, Texas. Chevron has initiated its emergency response procedures and is currently responding to the incident. Chevron’s primary concern at this point is to ensure the safety of its employees and the surrounding community. As soon as there are further details, they will be made available.”
Milford is about 65 miles south of Dallas.
The AP said deputies went door to door asking the town’s residents to leave after Chevron asked that Milford be evacuated. Milford schools Superintendent Don Clingenpeel said students and staff were moved to the nearby hamlet of Italy.
“The biggest concern right now is the pipelines that are around to make sure there’s not going to be additional explosions,” sheriff's spokesman James Saulter said, according to the AP. He added that it could take a day to bring the fire under control and cap the ruptured line.
It is unclear how long the evacuation would last. A city sign says Milford is a town “of about 700 friendly people and 3 or 4 old grouches.”
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