Investigators say a gas leak could be behind a pipeline explosion last night in a cornfield near Interstate 88 and Albany road, just north of Erie in Whiteside County. Flames from the explosion were reportedly visible in parts of Ogle County, and were reported to be 300 feet high. About 80 homes were evacuated as a precaution but no one was injured.
A pipeline carrying a mixture of ethane and propane burst into flames around 11:15 Monday night. Houston-based Enterprise Products Partners were able to remotely turn off a valve to limit the gas flow to the site and diverted the fuel to other locations after the explosion.
