Fox2: Lightning Strike Hits Gas Line, Causes Fire In Olivette

OLIVETTE, MO (KTVI) – Lightning struck a natural gas line during Monday night’s storms and caused a fire in front of an Olivette home.  Some residents were forced to evacuate.

It happened on Bon HIlls Drive off Price Road. Burned areas in the front yard of a home only tell half the story. It’s were authorities say the lightning strike happened but it ruptured an underground natural gas service line.

Laclede Gas crews were still on the scene early Tuesday morning making repairs to the line.  The strike happened about 11:45 p.m. Monday.  Olivette fire crews say the strike led to a fire in the front yard of the home.

Firefighters put the fire out and Laclede gas shut off the gas main.  Laclede officials say eight homes were evacuated for about three hours while crews worked the scene.  Residents were allowed back into their homes around 3:00 a.m. Tuesday.  The area is now safe.

Fortunately the people who live in the home were not home at the time.  No one was hurt.