Gallery: Gas line explosion in Sissonville, W.Va.

The Associated Press

This image provided by the West Virginia State Police shows a fireball erupting across Interstate 77 from a gas line explosion Tuesday, Dec, 11, 2012, in Sissonville, W.Va. At least five homes went up in flames Tuesday afternoon and a badly damaged section of Interstate 77 was shut down in both directions near Sissonville after a natural gas explosion triggered an hour-long inferno that officials say spanned about a quarter-mile.

The Associated Press

This image provided by the Kanawha County Emergency Services shows flames erupting across Interstate 77 from a gas line explosion Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Sissonville, W.Va. At least five homes went up in flames Tuesday afternoon and a badly damaged section of Interstate 77 was shut down in both directions near Sissonville after a major gas line explosion triggered an hour-long inferno that officials say spanned about a quarter-mile.

The Associated Press

Flames burn from a gas line explosion across Interstate 77 near Sissonville, W.Va., on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. At least five homes went up in flames Tuesday afternoon and a badly damaged section of Interstate 77 was shut down in both directions near Sissonville after a natural gas explosion triggered an hour-long inferno that officials say spanned about a quarter-mile.

The Associated Press

Flames are seen from a gas line explosion across Interstate 77 near Sissonville, W.Va., on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012.

The Associated Press

Emergency vehicles from every agency available line the roadway of Route 21 between Sissonville, W.Va., and Pocatalico, W.Va., on Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012, after a natural gas line explosion. At least five homes went up in flames Tuesday afternoon and a badly burned section of the expressway in West Virginia was closed after a natural gas line exploded in an hour-long inferno.

The Associated Press

Firetrucks are ready as flames from a gas line explosion rise near Sissonville, W.Va., on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012.

The Associated Press

Flames from a gas line explosion cross Interstate 77 near Sissonville, W.Va., on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012.

The Associated Press

A helicopter files above flames from a gas line explosion across Interstate 77 near Sissonville, W.Va., on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. At least five homes went up in flames Tuesday afternoon and a badly damaged section of Interstate 77 was shut down in both directions near Sissonville after a natural gas explosion triggered an hour-long inferno that officials say spanned about a quarter-mile.

The Associated Press

Flames burn from a gas line explosion near Sissonville, W.Va., on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. At least five homes went up in flames Tuesday afternoon and a badly damaged section of Interstate 77 was shut down in both directions near Sissonville after a natural gas explosion triggered an hour-long inferno that officials say spanned about a quarter-mile.

The Associated Press

Flames fill the sky from a gas line explosion across Interstate 77 near Sissonville, W.Va., on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012.

The Associated Press

The remains of a residential structure is leveled and burning after a natural gas line explosion Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 along Route 21 between Sissonville, W.Va., and Pocatalico, W.Va. At least five homes went up in flames Tuesday afternoon and a badly burned section of the expressway in West Virginia was closed after a natural gas line exploded in an hour-long inferno.

This image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board Wednesday Dec. 12, 2012 shows investigators looking over a 20-foot-long section of pipe found more than 40 feet from the rupture site in Sissonville, W.Va. The 20-inch transmission pipe exploded around midday Tuesday, destroying four homes, cooking a section of Interstate 77, a major north-south commuting corridor that passes through the capital city, and creating a crater 17 feet deep. (AP Photo/NTSB)

This image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board shows NTSB investigator Robert Sumwalt at the site of a gas line explosion in Sissonville, W. Va., Wednesday Dec. 21, 2012. Federal regulators say there have been 20 "significant'' pipeline incidents involving deaths, injuries or major property damage in West Virginia in the last decade. (AP Photo/National Transportation Safety Board)

This image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board shows an NTSB investigator at the site of a gas line explosion in Sissonville, W. Va., Wednesday Dec. 21, 2012. Federal regulators say there have been 20 "significant" pipeline incidents involving deaths, injuries or major property damage in West Virginia in the last decade. (AP Photo/National Transportation Safety Board)

Charred trees and homes are left along Interstate 77 Wednesday Dec. 12, 2012, where a gas line ruptured and exploded in Sissonville, W.Va. Tuesday. The interstate pavement melted from the heat of the explosion, shutting down Interstate 77 overnight. But the northbound lanes of the interstate reopened at 8am Wednesday, and the southbound lanes a few hours later. Investigations into what caused the massive blast in a 20-inch Columbia Gas Transmission line are under way. (AP Photo/Charleston Daily Mail,Tom Hindman)

Charred trees and bushes are left along Interstate 77 Wednesday Dec. 12, 2012 where a gas line ruptured and exploded in Sissonville, W.Va. Tuesday. The interstate pavement melted from the heat of the explosion, shutting down Interstate 77 overnight. But the northbound lanes of the interstate reopened at 8am Wednesday, and the southbound lanes a few hours later. Investigations into what caused the massive blast in a 20-inch Columbia Gas Transmission line are under way. (AP Photo/Charleston Daily Mail,Tom Hindman)

Charred trees are all that stand on the along Interstate 77 Wednesday Dec. 12, 2012, where a gas line ruptured and exploded in Sissonville, W.Va., Tuesday. The interstate pavement melted from the heat of the explosion, shutting down Interstate 77 overnight. But the northbound lanes of the interstate reopened at 8am Wednesday, and the southbound lanes a few hours later. Investigations into what caused the massive blast in a 20-inch Columbia Gas Transmission line are under way. (AP Photo/Charleston Daily Mail,Tom Hindman)

Workers look over the area damaged after a gas line exploded near interstate 77 in Sissonville, W.Va., Wednesday Dec. 12, 2012. Tuesday a 20-inch Columbia Gas transmission line exploded, destroying four homes and cooking a section of Interstate 77, a major north-south commuting corridor that passes through the capital city of Charleston, W.V. (AP Photo/Charleston Gazette, Larry Pierce)

Workers look over the remains of one of the four houses destroyed after a gas line exploded near interstate 77 in Sissonville, W.Va., Wednesday Dec. 12, 2012. Tuesday a 20-inch Columbia Gas transmission line exploded, destroying four homes and cooking a section of Interstate 77, a major north-south commuting corridor that passes through the capital city of Charleston, W.V. (AP Photo/Charleston Gazette, Larry Pierce)

This image provided by the West Virginia State Police shows inspectors looking over the site of a gas line explosion in Sissonville, W. Va., Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012. The natural gas line explosion and fire damaged I-77, flattened four homes and damaged five more but caused no deaths. (AP Photo/West Virginia State Police)