Firefighters in Mountain Grove, Mo., credit training in battling natural gas line explosion

MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. (KY3) - Firefighters say an independent contractor working on street improvements hit a natural gas line, leading to an explosion inside a Mountain Grove detached garage.

City Administrator Tim Schook says it’s the fourth time in a single week that the lines were ruptured due to Bright Speed Internet’s project to install fiber optic internet in Mountain Grove. He says it’s for that reason he’s halting all their projects ahead of a sit-down meeting.

“What the gas company tells me is they’re required to spot each utility they cross, and they didn’t do that,” said Schook. “So that’s why I’ve shut them down until we have a meeting with Bright Speed to it figure out, you know. We don’t want this to happen again, we definitely don’t want any injuries or loss of life from a mistake. So let’s regroup. You know, let’s get it done. But let’s do it the right way.”

The Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home owned the garage. One of the owners says they’re in the process of finding out how much the damages are, but an early estimate puts it at as much as $200,000. The explosion destroyed the funeral home’s hearse and van. Firefighters evacuated the entire block for concerns of another explosion.

Mountain Grove Fire Chief Mark Bushong says four ruptures in one week is unacceptable.

“I think it’s really carelessness on their part that they’re not following the rules that are applied for that type of business,” said Chief Bushong. “And so, you know, they put everybody in jeopardy this time, you know, we were fortunate enough that nobody got hurt, nobody died. But, you know, they need to step up, take a little more responsibility for what they’re doing.”

Firefighters credited a class attended annually that is hosted by natural gas companies in the state for their quick action. Firefighters say they worked together to assure no other explosions happened down the natural gas line.

Firefighters stayed on the scene until midnight.

We reached out to Bright Speed for comment and have not yet heard back from them. We will update this story when we do.

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com