***UPDATE*** Irish Ridge Road Pipeline Rupture

A big boom and jet engine-like noises could be heard near Philo Saturday morning.

Part of the Rockies Express Pipeline ruptured around 10:30 AM, because of a gas leak.  It happened near the compressor station on Irish Ridge Road. Due to preset safety measures, the pipeline shut down after the rupture.

"There were no injuries.  There was actually no fire, just the explosion the gas blowing out of the ground or out of the plant, I am not sure because we have not had anyone exactly to the location yet," says Jeff Jadwin the Deputy Director of the Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency.

The Harrison Township Fire Department evacuated around 50 people from homes within a mile radius of the gas leak.  The Red Cross was on hand at the fire department to assist with the displaced families. Around 1:15 PM the Emergency Management Agency said the gas leak was under control and the families then returned to their homes. The cause of the rupture is still under investigation.

Katie Jeffries

KJeffries@whizmediagroup.com