MAY 20, 2015
LUBBOCK, TEXAS
A ruptured gas line was capped off nearly three hours after
the leak that triggered evacuations and road closures in Southwest Lubbock.
Atmos Energy confirmed residents were evacuated in Southwest
Lubbock after a third-party contractor ruptured a gas line while drilling late
Wednesday morning.
Marinda Heinrich with Atmos said the gas leak was stopped
about 3:15 p.m. before the flow of leaking gas is shut off after a
four-inch-diameter gas line was damaged just after 12:30 p.m. near 98th Street
and Chicago Avenue.
Fire crews were working to clear the area to allow residents
to return to their homes.
Atmos crews had to drill three holes to access the dual-feed
line, making sure not to rupture other lines that could be in the area before
they can “squeeze off” the leak, Heinrich said.
Residents from about 30 houses were evacuated while several
streets surrounding the area, including a portion of 98th Street and Chicago
Avenue, were closed.
The incident was reported about 12:40 p.m., according to
Lubbock police.
Lubbock Fire Rescue crews were blocking traffic from the
area and evacuating people.
LFR issued the following statement:
“E19 and T12 are on the scene of a natural gas line that is
leaking in the area of 98th and Chicago Ave. Traffic is being diverted around
the area and a small evacuation of the surrounding homes is being conducted as
a precaution.”
By 1:30 p.m., additional fire rescue vehicles were at the
scene, including a rehab vehicle.
Source: lubbockonline.com