A massive fire sparked by the eruption and explosion of a gas pipeline in Garland County has caused a mile-wide evacuation of the area Wednesday evening.
According to the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management, the explosion happened at 1405 Highway 298 in Jessieville, about 75 miles west of Little Rock.
Authorities said no injuries in connection to the pipeline rupture have been reported.
Evacuations in a one-mile radius from the explosion site were ordered by authorities. A shelter was established at the Jessieville High School safe room for evacuees needing a place to stay.
"I just got the call that everybody was evacuating so I rushed home," Jamie Caldwell, who lives near the site of the explosion said. "I tried to get home and they had 298 blocked off. Now they're allowing us to go home, so that's good."