Area evacuated
By John Joyce
Published in News on June 15, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Firefighters monitor the area behind City Hall after a gas leak forced an evacuation of the building this morning around 9. The gas line was shut off until the problem could be resolved.
A city crew working on a sewer line severed a gas line early this morning forcing the evacuation of Goldsboro City Hall and several adjacent businesses, the Goldsboro Fire Department said.
No injuries were reported.
The initial call came in at 8:37 a.m., Goldsboro Fire Chief Gary Whaley said. The evacuation lasted approximately half an hour.
At the time, all Whaley knew was a construction crew working behind city hall had severed a natural gas line.
"I don't know what they were digging for. An excavator hit a gas line," he said.
Assistant Chief Frank Sasser later confirmed that city crew accidentally severed the gas line while working on the city sewer system.
"They were putting in a sewer tap, the city was," Sasser said.
Sasser said a representative from Piedmont Natural Gas was on scene waiting for a crew to come out and repair the line.
Along with the employees inside city hall -- sources inside the building said there were eight people present at the time of the evacuation. The B & G Grill at 110 E. Ash St. was also evacuated.
Owner Bruce Rains said firefighters came into the restaurant and told him the building needed to be cleared.
"It was about 30 minutes ago. The firefighters came in and said they had a gas leak," he said.
Along with 15 employees, Rains had a full dining room at the time. He managed to keep in good spirits, however, despite the interruption to his morning rush.
"We had a crowd in here. They all left without paying," Rains joked. "No. no," he said. "Most of them paid."
Just as the businesses on North John Street were beginning to be evacuated, word came over the first responders radios that the leak had been capped. Workers from Piedmont Natural Gas had arrived and managed to prevent any more gas from escaping.
Members of the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation were just making their way across the street when they were allowed to go back inside.
After allowing a few extra minutes for the gas that had escaped to dissipate, the all clear was given. At 9:14, the evacuation was lifted, the roads were opened and city employees were allowed back into city hall. The B & G Grill also reopened.
"All of our breakfast stuff is electric, so we are open right now. We'll be ready for lunch as well. We don't have our gas right now but they said it would be back on within an hour.