Gas leak in Washington Township, New Jersey forces homes evacuations, road closures
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) -- A gas main break that closed roads and forced evacuations from several homes in a section of Washington Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey on Wednesday has been contained.
At around 12:20 p.m., Washington Township police said homes were evacuated on Mulberry, Benner and Pembrook roads between Egg Harbor Road and Beachwood Drive. Pembrook Road was closed while utility companies work in the area. A temporary shelter was set up at the Washington Township Senior Center at 315 Greentree Road.
Shortly before 3 p.m., police said the leak had been contained and residents were able to get back into their homes.
Gloucester County Emergency Management said this all started when a contractor that was working on doing road work ended up striking a gas main which led to the leak. Thankfully, there are no injuries.
Pembrook Road remains shut down after a gas main break in the neighborhood. Several homeowners in the neighborhood were evacuated, but they’ve since been allowed to return home. We spoke to one of those homeowners today at 5 pm @CBSPhiladelphia. pic.twitter.com/PDPuIpKKIv
— Brandon Goldner (@GoldnerTV) September 4, 2024
The odor from this break was so strong that Chopper 3 said they could smell it.
Officers took evacuated homeowners to the nearby senior center where Mike Borginis said they spent several hours waiting for the all-clear.
"There was a loud hissing sound, and the fire department was squirting water over to the other side of the street, and at the time, the police told me to get back in the house so I came in and we started getting a go bag together," he said. "Then the power got cut and they came to the door and said, 'You better get out.'"
"We extend our sincere thanks to the Washington Twp. Fire District, Washington Twp. Ambulance Squad, Gloucester County Emergency Management, and the Senior Center for providing shelter and assistance to evacuated families," Washington Township police said on Facebook.
Part of Pembrook Road at Egg Harbor Road is still closed.
South Jersey Gas crews will remain on location and Atlantic City Electric was expected to be restored soon, police said.
It's not clear how many people were evacuated and how long it'll take crews to fix the break.