This past Monday in Helena, Alabama, a track hoe machine hit a gasoline pipeline and created an explosion. The blast killed one person and seriously injured five others, all of whom were working on the pipeline system at the time.

A forced evacuation was put into place as the post-explosion fire continued to rage. Burning as many as 30 acre of forest, the fire has left many fearing future droughts and forest fires. This explosion comes after a recent gas leak that was just five miles west from Helena. Since both incidents, the pipeline has been shut down and is now causing an influx in gas shortages and a subsequent increase in gas prices throughout southeastern and Mid-Atlantic parts of the country. This will be the second time the same pipeline has been shutdown. Officials continue to investigate and monitor the situation, while Helena residents safely return to their homes.

Other pipeline issues have been uncovered in North Dakota where a similar pipeline is also being blocked. Several protests are restricting the construction of a new pipeline, as it lies on the ground where many Native American artifacts are buried. As many as 140 protesters have been arrested.