Gas leak forces residents to evacuate
By Melody Brown-Peyton
Published in News on August 17, 2018 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/MELODY BROWN-PEYTON
Crews with Ansco and Associates and the Goldsboro Fire Department work to contain a gas leak on Quail Drive Thursday.
A natural gas leak forced 24 residents out of their homes in the 200 block of Quail Drive Thursday afternoon and closed the road for two hours while crews worked to clean up the spill.
Goldsboro firefighters and police responded to the leak around 2 p.m. The leak occurred when Greensboro-based contractors Ansco and Associates struck a gas line while performing utility work in the area, said Jennifer Sharpe, lead communication consultant with Piedmont Natural Gas.
For safety reasons, law enforcement told residents to not drive their vehicles. Residents were also asked to leave the area on foot. The gas fumes could be smelled blocks away.
No injuries were reported.
Piedmont Natural Gas crews had the gas leak under control by 2:15 p.m., Sharpe said. Repairs were underway to restore service to 10 homes that lost service during the leak. Company officials planned to contact residents by phone after service was restored.
"All procedures on my company's end were followed during the leak," Sharpe said. "We will be conducting an investigation as to what led to the leak, which is standard procedure when there is a gas leak."
She encouraged homeowners and business owners to contact her office by calling 811 before they dig, so utility markers can be placed to prevent gas leaks.
Having safety measures in place could reduce the likelihood of gas leaks.
Company officials with Ansco and Associates were not available for comment to confirm when the digging project, which led to the leak, will be completed.