An entire Texas town was forced to evacuate as a precautionary measure on Thursday, after law enforcement officials announced that a pipeline in the area burst, shooting a tower of fire and black smoke into the air that could be seen for miles.
Residents of Milford, a town located about 50 miles south of Dallas, were moved out of the immediate vicinity of the explosion in Ellis County.
The blast occurred at a drilling site, local station WFAA reported, and members of the crew working on the rig were able to flee from the explosion with no injuries. Milford Fire Department Chief Mark Jackson told the Los Angeles Times that no individuals have come forward with reports of wounds. Jackson told WFAA that the incident happened as a result of a break in the pipe.
Officials have decided to hold off on extinguishing the fire, and will wait for the fire to burn itself out instead.
The pipeline reportedly housed natural gas, a local Fox affiliate reported, adding that the pipeline was owned by Chevron.
Photos and videos from the ground depicted a mountain of orange flames surrounded by a line of black ascending into the sky. A handful of vehicles nearby the site were also seen ablaze, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Jackson reported that 200 students in the Milford Independent School District were evacuated following the accident. Highway patrol officers have closed off multiple roads while they await the fire's end, including US 77 at FM 308, Interstate 35 exit ramps into Milford and FM 308 from SH 22 in Hill County.
Milford is home to a population of about 728 people.
Watch live video of the fire here.
