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5-Story Geyser Of Flames Shoots Into Mundelein Sky

MUNDELEIN, Ill. (CBS) -- As officials have warned, you can expect to see a five-story geyser of flames shooting into the air in Mundelein through much of the morning Tuesday.

As CBS 2's Kris Habermehl reports, North Shore Gas crews are working on a new gas main in Mundelein, and are burning off natural gas through a 50-foot-high flare pipe.

The crews are burning off gas from a decommissioned pipeline that is being replaced just southwest of Allanson and Butterfield roads. They are conducting a controlled burn using piping coming off the old gas main.

A feed pipe protrudes from the old gas main through the bushes and up a 90-degree angle, where it feeds into the special trailer-mounted flare tower from which the flames are shooting.

The pilot light was lit at 5 a.m., and Habermehl said the flames would burn for three or four hours.

Crews might need to burn the gas flare again later on Tuesday or on Wednesday morning, depending on how long it takes to complete work on the new gas main.

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