Explosion
A pipeline explosion caused a large fire in Platte County Tuesday evening, but no injuries were reported.

Crews were called to the scene in the 9600 block of Mellon's Bridge Road, an isolated area near Kansas City International Airport.

The pipeline ruptured on private property about 6:30 p.m. The property owner reported the explosion and fire.

Plumes of fire and heavy smoke were showing from the scene and lit up the sky from miles away. An hour after the fire started, it was still burning, but the flames had reduced significantly. The fire was burning itself out a short time later.

A crew from Mid-America Pipeline Company came to shut off the valves so the pipelines' mix of ethane and propane didn't fuel the fire.

KCI Airport spokesman Joe McBride said the fire was not affecting flights at the airport and was not on airport property.

There were no homes or businesses damaged. Officials said the closest house was about a half-mile away.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.