Encinal Texas-Natural Gas Explosion At Lewis Energy Group Facility

On October 16th Two explosions and flames shooting 150 feet into the air rocked residents in the LaSalle County community of Encinal just after 4 a.m. Friday.

Officials said a natural gas gathering facility exploded at the Lewis Energy Group facility about one-quarter of a mile outside of town.

 "We heard a boom and then a second boom. Rattled the whole house," Anselma Aldaco, an Encinal resident, said.  “My husband went outside and all we could see was bright light and flames shooting 150 feet into the air.”

No one was injured in the blast but the intense heat sent three families from their home temporarily.

“As a matter of public safety some residents were requested to leave the immediate area affected by the fire and heat,” said Encinal City Manager Velma Davila.

 The fire was finally extinguished at 10:30 a.m.

“Our goal right now is prevention of further damage and damage to the enviorment,” Pete Kirsch of Navarro Midstream Services said.  “The facility has been de-energized.”

Kirsch said that they are now beginning the investigative phase.

Authorities are seeking the cause of the blast.

"We have not come to a conclusion. It is still under investigation," Lewis Energy Group president Craig Schnieder said. "We have third parties going into the area to try and figure out where exactly the mishap occurred."

Source: KSAT