No Injuries In Pipeline Explosion, Fire In Pittsburg County

A natural gas pipeline in rural Pittsburg County ruptured and caught fire Tuesday morning. 

A spokesperson said no one was injured when the 12-inch pipeline caught fire just south of Kiowa just after 11 a.m. 

The site is just west of Highway 69.  

Sandra Longcrier, a spokesperson for Enable Midstream Partners, said they don't have any indication what caused the pipeline to rupture. She says the resulting fire burned a hay barn and hay field. 

Longcrier initially reported that the pipeline was operated by Enogex. She later clarified that by saying Enogex merged with another company to form Enable earlier this year. OG & E owns part of the new company. 

She said Enable shut down the pipeline and let the fire burn itself out. 

Kiowa Police said the crater was 20 feet deep and 30 feet across.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, local firefighters, Oklahoma Corporation Commission representatives and Enogex were on scene. 

The commission will be investigating the cause of the rupture.