Tank blaze brings firefighters to closed south Columbia gas station

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A tank used to store flammable liquid blew its top off Route K, sending its top flying into a nearby neighborhood.

Fire crews were called to the closed Leatherwood Hills store on Route K at about 2 p.m. for a tank fire. A photo shows four tanks of the sort used to store gasoline or other flammable liquids. The tanks show burn marks, and one is missing its top.

Boone County Fire District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said the top of the tank was blown off in an explosion, hit a house and landed on a street about 100 yards to the west. No injuries have been reported.

The fire started when people were working to remove the tanks, and a spark lit vapors inside the tank that exploded, Blomenkamp said.

Boone County emergency dispatchers sent out an alert warning of traffic congestion on Route K because of the firefighting operation.

Check back for updates to this developing story.