Thousands Without Heat After Explosion
A leaking natural gas line exploded early Sunday, destroying at least two nearby buildings and leaving several thousand people without heat in icy weather.
Two firefighters were slightly injured in the fire and were treated at and released from Wythe County Community Hospital. There were no other injuries.
The cause of the gas leak was not immediately known.
A motorcycle shop and a house were destroyed. A family inside the house escaped, said Judy Moss, spokeswoman for United Cities Gas.
United Cities responded by cutting off service to all customers--about 1,500 homes and businesses--Moss said.
Wytheville is about 65 miles southwest of Roanoke in western Virginia.
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