Video & photos: Gas leak & fire in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Battalion Chief Tim Riley checks in from Virginia Beach, Virginia on yesterday's gas leak and fire sparked by a construction crew:

Construction Crews Struck a 4 inch plastic natural gas line.  The gas immediately caught line near the entrance to the US Naval Master Jet Base Oceana.  The fire closed portions of Oceana Blvd down for 3 and ½ hours.  Fire crews protected the construction excavator valued at $250,000 dollars.  VBFD elected to let the fire burn for safety reason, the fire consumed all the natural gas.  If the fire was extinguished natural gas would have accumulated in the area making for a potentially dangerous situation.  The fire burned for 2/12 hours before Virginia Natural Gas could secured the 4 inch gas line.  No injuries and the excavator remained idling  during the entire call.  It was pretty cool.

Besides Martin Grube's video above from Fire Rescue TV a picture from Chief Riley is below. And below that are three from an excellent series of photos by VBFD photographer Kirk Kellerhals. You can see the rest of Kirk's photos here on Facebook.