KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |Equipment problem led to blast in Caddo Parish

Equipment problem led to blast in Caddo Parish

SHREVEPORT, LA (AP) - A spokeswoman for CenterPoint Energy Inc. of Houston says an accident on Tuesday cost a company worker part of his arm - but it was a problem with equipment rather than a natural gas explosion.

Alicia Dixon says the worker is hospitalized. She says she cannot give his name, and does not know his age or home town.

Officials reported Tuesday that there had been an explosion at a gas transmission station in Caddo Parish.

Dixon says she does not know any details, but there was neither a fire nor a release of natural gas. She says it appears to have been an equipment malfunction, but she does not know what sort of equipment or what happened.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

From Oct. 28
CADDO PARISH, LA (KSLA) - An afternoon natural gas explosion in Caddo Parish sent one man to the hosptial Tuesday.

The blast happened about 1:30 Tuesday afternoon in the 7000 block of Highway 3049, also called the Dixie-Shreveport Road. That's just south of Dixie-Blanchard Road.

Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator said the explosion happened at the Dixie Interconnect, which is a gas transmission station.

Prator says the injured man works for CenterPoint Energy. He was hurt when a high-pressure valve blew apart. Prator says some of the flying debris hit the employee.

"He was by himself, and the Voluntine's, which is the family that farms up here, were close by doing some farming, and I'm glad that they were because they immediately rendered aid and did the things they should do to help somebody, and we were called, and so it's going to work out OK. We're just trying to figure out what happened," Prator said.

Caddo Fire Districts #1 and #7 responded to the scene.

The injured employee was air-lifted to LSU Hospital. His name and condition have not been released.

The explosion is being investigated by CenterPoint Energy.