Lightning Thunder Busted Gas Line in NW Pennsylvania

Ruptured natural gas line found burning in northwestern Pennsylvania wasn't damaged by an earthquake centered in Virginia, but was likely struck by lightning thunder days before.
Joseph Swope, a spokesman for UGI Utilities Inc. in Reading, tells The Associated Press the company believes the gas line in President Township, Venango County was hit by lightning on Sunday. Swope says a small fire on the line burned harmlessly until it was discovered and put out quickly Tuesday afternoon.
County emergency management coordinator Tom Sherman tells the Erie Times-News that officials initially thought the quake might have caused the line to rupture, because of when the fire was discovered.The 5.8-magnitude quake was centered in Virginia but felt throughout Pennsylvania and several other states along the East Coast.