Gas leak in Arcanum neighborhood made safe; Fire chief gives the all clear

UPDATE @ 8:09 p.m.: The all clear for the Arcanum gas leak has been given and residents may now return to their homes.

"The gas leak has been patched" by the Vectren crew, Arcanum Fire Chief Kurt Troutwine said.

His crews got the call about the leak at 3:38 p.m. The all clear was given just after 8 p.m. to end the incident at 4 1/2 hours.

Natalie Hedde, director of corporate communications for Vectren, said a crew had been called to the area on a report of a leak.

While investigating the leak, a piece of equipment ruptured a gas main and allowed gas to enter into a storm drain, she said. The leak has been made safe and a permanent repair will be performed, she said.

UPDATE @ 7:04 p.m.: 

Fire crews and a Vectren construction team could be in an Arcanum neighborhood several more hours tonight, trying to locate the gas leak that has forced the evacuation of at least seven homes, Arcanum Fire Chief Kurt Troutwine said.

A Vectren crew was repairing a gas leak in an alleyway in the area of West South and West George streets, between Locust and West streets, when they poked a hole in a sewer line, the chief said.

The crew called the fire department.

Troutwine said the affected area seems to be in the 400 to 500 block of West South and West George, between those two streets.

A church on South Street also has been made available for people who have no place to go, the chief said. In addition to the evacuation, power has been shut off to three homes until the leak has been stopped and the gas has been ventilated from all the homes affected.

Fire/rescue crews from Greenville Twp., New Madison and Pitsburg have been called in to help ventilate the affected homes.

"We could be here for several hours," Chief Troutwine said. "They're still trying to find the leak in the alley."

Troutwine said it you smell gas in your home, call 9-1-1 and let fire/rescue crews on scene know right away. If you do smell gas in your home, it probably will be coming from a basement or bathroom drain because of the sewer line connections.

UPDATE @ 5:06 p.m.:

At least seven homes are being evacuated because of the gas leak in an Arcanum neighborhood.

The Arcanum fire chief tells us the leak has been traced to a Vectren crew, in an alleyway between North West and North Locust streets. The Vectren crew called the fire department, which initially was dispatched to the 400 block of West South Street.

Gas may have seeped into homes through sewer lines and fire crews are going house to house to test levels in homes.

There are people now leaving their homes, getting into vehicles, until further notice.

One husband and wife, who have five children, are going to her mother's home. The woman said her mother lives on the other side of Arcanum.

Our crew was in the area of West George and North West streets.

INITIAL REPORT

A gas leak has been reported in the 400 block of West South Street this afternoon, according to initial reports.
Fire crews were dispatched to the area around 3:30 p.m.

We’re working to find out more.