Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion Ignites Wildfire Near Colorado-New Mexico Border
A natural gas pipeline exploded on Tuesday afternoon near La Boca, New Mexico, close to the Colorado border, sending flames reportedly 100 to 150 feet into the air. The explosion, which occurred around 2 p.m., sparked a wildland fire in San Juan County, New Mexico. Jerrod T. Jones, a spokesman for Harvest Midstream Co., confirmed that crews responded to the incident, and the flow of gas to the affected portion of the system was stopped. No injuries have been reported, and all crew members are accounted for. The Los Pinos Fire Protection District provided mutual aid to the scene, where the wildland fire was reportedly smoldering after the pipeline was shut in. Residents described the sound of the explosion as intensely loud, comparable to an F-16 jet, and felt the ground shake.