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Gas Line Fire In Weld County Too Intense For Crews To Get Near

WELD COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Nobody was injured after a gas line explosion in Weld County Thursday afternoon.

The explosion occurred at approximately 2 p.m. northeast of Greeley. The resulting fire is burning is so hot it's dangerous for crews to get near it. Crews have already had to back away 2 miles because of the fire's intensity.

weld county explosion
Copter4 flew over an explosion in Weld County (credit: CBS)

The gas line is a 12-inch high pressure line on private property near County Road 63 and Highway 392.

The Weld County Sheriff's Office says it likely ruptured when someone was digging a trench on the property.

WELDCO EXPLOSION 5VO.transf
(credit: CBS)

Someone on the property had been reported missing but was later found.

Crews were able to shut down the line from 2 miles away in hopes of stopping the fire, but it could burn for hours or even all night.

WELDCO EXPLOSION map
(credit: CBS)

Nobody has claimed responsibility for striking the line yet.

The property is owned by Steve Wells, a man who was featured in an uplifting CBS4 story back in May. Wells bought a fallen deputy's cruiser at an auction and gave the keys to the deputy's son. He talked elusively with CBS4's Kelly Werthmann about why he did it.

Wells declined to comment about the explosion saying he has yet to get all the facts.

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