The Kennett Fire department was called Thursday afternoon to assist with a natural gas pipeline in Pemiscot County that had been struck by farm excavating equipment. Staff photos by Amenda Alexander [Click to enlarge]

At approximately 4 p.m. Thursday the Kennett Fire Department received a call from the Pemiscot County Sheriff Department to assist with a natural gas pipeline, that had been struck by farm excavating equipment.

The KFD was requested to bring water tankers and manpower.

The gas pipeline was located under farmland off County Road 423 in Pemiscot County.

A Natural Gas pipeline was struck by farm excuvating equpiment on County Road 423 in Pemiscot County, producing the vapors caught above. [Click to enlarge]

According to Fire Chief John Mallott, the maintenance crew from ATMOS Energy released the fire department at about 5 p.m., since there were no houses near the rupture and no danger to people in the area.

Chief Mallott said, "ATMOS told us (KFD) they may not be able to do the repairs until midnight."

According to Steve Green, manager of public affairs, in Jackson, Mo., the pipeline was a 10-inch high-pressure line with approximately 350 pounds of pressure within it.

Green added, " The repair crew shut the natural gas line off at strategic places both north and south of Deering. There was about a four mile stretch of line that was shut down."

"We have to let all of the natural gas bleed out of the line before any repair can begin," Green said.

The pipeline serves the communities of Deering, Holland, Steele, and Cooter.