Pipeline explodes in North Texas; hundreds evacuated

MILFORD, Texas - Residents and hundreds of school children in the North Texas city of Milford were evacuated after a 10-inch Chevron natural gas pipeline exploded Thursday morning, CBSDFW.com reports. No injuries were reported and a several mile radius around the pipeline was blocked off as fire crews allowed the fire to burn off.

The Ellis County Sheriff's Office says the explosion occurred about 9:30 a.m. Thursday at a rig near Milford, about 40 miles south of Dallas. Chevron spokesman Justin Higgs says the accident involves a liquefied petroleum gas pipeline.

CBS 11 confirmed the transmission line which moves liquid petroleum gas, or natural gas, was hit by an onsite construction crew. Transmission lines are larger than those which carry gas to individual homes and because the shut off valve is not easy to get to, first responders have determined it's best to let the fire burn.

Flames could be seen shooting into the air and some vehicles at the worksite burned.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Jo Ann Livingston says authorities have not received any word of injuries.

Lt. James Saulter said deputies were going door-to-door in Milford, advising people in the town of about 700 to leave.

Milford school Superintendent Don Clingenpeel says all students and staff were being evacuated to the nearby town of Italy.