E. Texas Gas Plant Explodes

Cars, grass catch fire. No injuries reported.

An explosion near an East Texas gas processing plant sparked grass fires and burned several parked vehicles on Wednesday, officials said.

No injuries were reported, said Sam Moore, a firefighter and dispatcher with the Carthage Fire Department.

Preliminary reports indicate a gas line near the DCP Midstream East Texas facility ruptured, Moore said. DCP Midstream said it was dispatching an investigation team but it could take several days to identify the cause.

Employees from the DCP Midstream were evacuated and the plant was shut down, company officials said in a statement.

Residents living within a mile-and-a-half of the plant were being evacuated. DCP officials said state Highway 79, adjacent to the plant, was blocked.

Carthage is located about 175 miles east of Dallas, near the Louisiana border.

The East Texas facility is operated by DCP Midstream and owned by DCP Midstream and DCP Midstream Partners.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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