Imperial Parkway reopens after natural gas fire

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. – A power line and other property were damaged in a natural gas fire that broke out before 10:15 p.m. Thursday, causing a shutdown on Imperial Parkway between Bonita Beach and Immokalee roads, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Power was out for more than 150 people before it was fully restored by 11:15 a.m. Friday, Florida Power & Light said. Some lanes of Imperial were still shut down as of noon, but traffic was getting by in both directions.

The fire, which was extinguished before sunrise, was on a natural gas line, deputies said. They were taking precautions to avoid an explosion while crews worked to put the fire out just feet away from homes. No one was injured, according to authorities.

“It was a huge fire, a huge blaze. It went quick, up the pole,” witness Christina Cisco said. “The truck, the electric truck, the trees and all the bushes started catching on fire.”

The fire broke out when crews were putting in a power pole and hit the gas line, officials said. The crews had a drill 10 feet in the ground at the time.