Natural gas pipeline burns after rupturing at Shawnee landfill

SHAWNEE, Kansas - A major natural gas pipeline ruptured and caught fire at the Deffenbaugh facility in Shawnee, Kansas.

The fire was reported at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Johnson County Landfill, 17955 Holliday Drive.

Deffenbaugh spokesman Tom Coffman says the pipe is part of the landfill's gas processing plant which is owned and operated by EnPower.  The plant processes methane gas collected from wells in the landfill, and processes it into what is eventually sold as natural gas.

Emergency workers evacuated people from the facility while they simultaneously worked to cap the pipeline.

In addition to the landfill, there is a landfill gas company, recycling businesses and Shawnee Rock at that address.

No injuries have been reported.

Although it continued to burn, the fire was considered under control more than an hour after it was initially reported. 

Coffman says the gas processing plant remained shut down as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.  Trash trucks and trash operations were not affected by the leak and fire.

The cause of the rupture is under investigation.