North Texas Daily

Update 2:32 p.m.

Staff Reports

The gas well fire caused by a bolt of lightning Thursday night was successfully extinguished by Denton firefighters.

The fire department, with the help of Vantage Energy employees at the site, quelled the blaze on Westglen Drive by 2:30 a.m. Friday morning, City of Denton Public Information Officer Lindsey Baker said.

Vantage was successfully able to shut off the well. No injuries were reported and no homes were evacuated.

Update 1:23 a.m.

Rhiannon Saegert / News Editor

An explosion at a natural gas well during a thunderstorm Thursday night set off a fire that will burn for several hours behind Westglen Drive in Denton.

Denton Police Department Public Information Officer Ryan Greeley said police received a call about the fire, which they believe was ignited by lightning, at 9:53 p.m.

“At this point in time we have a gas well head that’s on fire and the battery tanks are on fire also,” Greeley said.

He said the Denton Fire Department must keep the well head and battery tanks cool to prevent more damage, but they need to let the fire burn out to avoid creating another hazard.

“If the fire department puts it out, then we’ve got natural gas spewing. Raw natural gas,” Greeley said. “So they’re letting it flare off until the crews get up here to be able to cap the well head.”

Greeley said no one was injured and no one was one the scene when the fire started. No nearby homes have been evacuated, but firefighters on the scene are using air monitors to make sure nothing hazardous escapes the well. The operator of the well, Vantage Energy, is sending crews from Houston to cap the well.

West Windsor Drive was closed off for emergency personnel. Interstate 35 and Frontage Road are still open.

The North Texas Daily is following the story. Updates will be posted when they are made available.

Video by Edward Balusek – Visuals Editor

Original post

Staff Reports

Lightning struck a gas well behind Westglen Drive, near Windsor Drive and Interstate 35, igniting a fire that could be seen close to campus. No official word has come on the fire, but emergency crews are on scene. It is not clear whether or not any injuries occurred.

Video courtesy of @GeoffreyMcPhail

Screenshot of the location of fire by Hannah Ridings – Staff Photographer

Featured Image: A gas well fire rages on near Windsor Road and I-35 in Denton. The site was struck by lightning during thunderstorms on Thursday night which ignited the flames.