UPDATED: Gas Blast Sparks Fire at Pierce Transit Center

A natural gas explosion at the Pierce Transit center shook the neighborhood around one of Lakewood’s busiest streets just after 5 p.m. Monday.

It sparked a blaze that prompted authorities to evacuate a quarter-mile zone around the center, at the corner of 96th Street Southwest and South Tacoma Way, while firefighters worked to put out the flames. The incident could affect bus routes Tuesday morning.

No one was hurt in the blast, which happened in the natural gas compressor mechanical space and is operated automatically, said Pierce Transit spokesman Lind Simonsen. A few people were in the yard, but nobody was close enough to get hurt, he said.

"They felt the concussion and looked over and saw it in flames," Simonsen said.

When firefighters arrived, they saw heavy flames and could hear that the gas was under pressure, said West Pierce Fire and Rescue spokeswoman Hallie McCurdy. They backed off for their own safety and put water on the fire from a distance initially.

The building that exploded is about 15 feet wide, 25 feet long and 10 to 12 feet high, he said. A construction trailer also was damaged in the blast and fire, but no buses were damaged, Simonsen said.

"Fortunately, it was a time of the day when most buses are out during evening commute," he said.

The cause of the blast is under investigation.

The explosion was felt in all directions along South Tacoma Way.

Moneytree staff member Tyrus Middleton—whose business operates about six blocks north—said employees were conducting transactions when they heard what sounded like a sonic boom.

"It felt like somebody was on top of the roof," Middleton said. "It shook us like, 'What's going on?' We could see the smoke in the distance. The smell got into the building but it didn't get too bad."

Pierce Transit staff in the administrative building about 300 feet away from the explosion were evacuated, along with businesses and residences within a quarter-mile radius, Simonsen said.

Because the explosion affected the main pipeline, Simonsen said there could be bus route disruptions in the morning. Riders should visit Pierce Transit’s web site for updates on potential cancellations.