Gas Line Sparks 32 Fires in Ohio Town
- Share via
McDONALD, Ohio — A malfunctioning pressure regulator sent natural gas surging through pipelines in this eastern Ohio community Thursday, sparking blazes in 32 homes and businesses and causing at least $1 million in damage, officials said.
The fires were all put out within hours and nobody was seriously hurt, although a firefighter was treated for minor injuries, George Brown of the Trumbull County Firemen’s Assn. said.
A tavern and nine of the homes were extensively damaged, said Fire Chief Dan Nagy, who provided the damage estimate.
Brown, whose organization is a grouping of Trumbull County fire departments, said more than 100 homes and businesses were evacuated as officials told those near the fires to leave. A shelter was established in a church.
McDonald Mayor Bob Zajack imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the community of 3,000 people northeast of Youngstown, near the Pennsylvania border.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
