America: 50☆Stars (Vol. 3)

Episode 36: Swiss Cheese and Birthday Cake

January 17, 2001—Hutchinson, Kansas

What was supposed to be a slow and serene morning for the citizens of Hutch suddenly shifted into chaos and confusion at the sound of an explosion somewhere downtown. Customers and workers at the Woody's Appliance store and the adjacent Décor Shop staggered out of the blown-up buildings to get over to their cars and leave the brick-scattered and glass-shattered area unscathed. Because less than two minutes later, both businesses were swallowed up swiftly by intense flames and clouds of smoke.

Fire engines were quick to arrive on the scene. They could tell from a glance the flames at the back of the building were being pressure-fed, most likely sourced from a broken gas line. Braving the freezing temperatures and the harsh heat of the fires, firefighters went to work to contain the flames. They set up their ladders and started hosing down the burning buildings. All the while, the captain of the crew got a hold of the utility company, telling them to shut all the gas lines down in the area after giving them a short explanation of the situation at hand.

"What in the world is going on?" the captain snapped after a while of waiting, turning to the driver of one of the engines. "Lieutenant, go get with those guys! They're telling me the gas is shut off. How come this thing isn't getting any smaller?"

"Yes, captain!" The lieutenant trotted into the alley behind the Décor Shop, confronting the utility guys working on the gas line. "Hey! What's going on?"

"W-We've shut everything off in a two-block area!"

"Well, shut it off wider! It ain't working! The fire isn't getting any smaller!"

"Okay, sir!" The utility workers hurried to shut down another level of gas lines.

Despite their efforts, the fires remained unaffected. No matter how much water they used, the flames persisted for hours into the evening. It finally became clear for firefighters this blaze wasn't being fueled by local gas.

Staring at the burning buildings, the captain shook his head in frustration. "Seriously, what in the world is going on? Where's the gas coming from?"

"Captain!" The lieutenant got their superior's attention. "I've just received information from operators. A series of geysers have suddenly appeared a few miles east of here."

"Geysers?" Gears began to turn in their heads. "Do the people in the area need our assistance?"

"Not immediately, sir. Operators tell us to be ready in case something happens."

"Damn it!"

The lieutenant scowled, "Your orders, captain?"

He gritted his teeth. "Take a breather and get yourself warmed up. We'll need to take turns manning the hoses. This is going to be an all-nighter."

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Over 24 hours had passed since the explosion occurred in the downtown area of Hutchinson. Not once did firefighters stop spraying water at the fires throughout that entire time. Despite their efforts, the charred carcasses of Woody's Appliance store and the Décor Shop still remained engulfed in flames. It had gotten so tedious to the point they asked for the assistance of college students specializing in fire science, just so they could get some of the firefighters out of the cold. They were about to rest their frigid bodies until the sound of an explosion echoed in the air.

Later that day, a town hall meeting was convened to address the critical situation.

"Is the gas from the Yaggy storage field?"

"Is Kansas Gas Service (KGas) responsible for this disaster?"

"Can the leak be fixed?"

"Are we going to die?"