IVEL, Ky. (AP) -- A fiery gas line explosion destroyed four homes and injured nine people, including an off-duty Kentucky state trooper who helped rescue a woman and a small child.
Trooper Rick Conn suffered second- and third-degree burns in Monday's explosion. He was in fair condition late Monday, said Kathy Cosco, a spokeswoman for Cabell-Huntington Hospital in West Virginia.
Officials said the line is owned by Kentucky-West Virginia Gas Co. and operated by Mark West Hydrocarbon in Colorado.
Mark West spokesman Cory Bromley said the company believes it operates the pipeline.
State Police Sgt. Phil Crumpton said Conn was on his way to work when the line exploded, blowing out the windows in his cruiser. Conn was injured but drove to the damaged homes to help the victims, Crumpton said.
``He heard a call for help and pulled a woman and small child out and then collapsed,'' Crumpton said. ``I heard he's in good spirits. He's got burns on the face, neck, chest and hands.''
The cause of the blast was not immediately known.
Seven of the other injured were treated and released: Kenneth Reid, Annabelle Reid, Charles Reid, Derek Newsome, Jeannie Newsome, Alexis Newsome and Terry Hall.
James Fulks was taken to the University of Kentucky Medical Center, but condition was not available.
Officials from the federal Office of Pipeline Safety were en route to the scene Monday afternoon.
