Crews remove gas pipeline suspected in Pa. blast

A 4-foot-long section of natural gas pipe suspected of causing a massive explosion and fire that killed five people in Allentown has been removed and will be transported to an engineering firm for analysis.

The Morning Call newspaper of Allentown says workers began removing the piece of cast iron pipe on Monday morning and finished at night. Another section has yet to be extricated.

A spokesman for utility company UGI says crews are taking their time because they don’t want to lose important evidence.

For a little background on how gas companies investigate leaks and explosions, check out Tom Macdonald’s report, filed after the Torresdale explosion that killed a PGW worker.