December 15th, 2011 by WCBC Radio

A rupture to a high pressure natural gas line in Piedmont early Thursday afternoon has left hundreds of customers in Piedmont and a number of towns in Allegany County without service. In addition to Piedmont, homes in Westernport, Luke and Bloomington were impacted. It was approximately 12:30 when the bucket of a backhoe struck the line causing the rupture. Initial reports of an explosion were somewhat exaggerated according to a Mineral County emergency management dispatcher. Crews from Columbia Gas arrived on the scene almost immediately. As many customers remain without heat or hot water as a result, there was no immediate estimate as to when the problem would be corrected, and gas service restored.