Gas Leak Causes Evacuation Of 35th District Court In Plymouth
PLYMOUTH (WWJ) - Plymouth's 35th District Court will remain closed for the day as officials try to locate and fix a gas leak the forced the evacuation of the building before the start of business.
The court, located on Plymouth Road between Hines Drive and I-275, was evacuated around 7:30 a.m. Thursday after employees coming into the three-story building for work reported smelling the indistinguishable odor of natural gas.
Chief Judge for 35th District Court Ron Lowe says it will be inconvenient for people who needed to pay a ticket or had other court business, but it's not catastrophic.
He told WWJ Newsradio 950's Ron Dewey it's not the first time they've had to deal with a disorder in the court.
"We went through a total fire at the courthouse and still operated the next day, so we're kind of pros at this," said Lowe, speaking of a fire during a storm in 1997. "What this will be, it's no different than if one judge called in sick and we had to reschedule his work because he wasn't going to be able to make it."
Consumers Energy Spokesperson Debra Dodd said outside contractors are checking out a boiler that's expected to be the origin of the leak. There was no explosion and no injuries were reported.
Employees and others with court duties moved to an adjacent parking lot and were eventually sent home.
Bench trials, ticket hearings and other court activities will be rescheduled. The court will reopen on Friday.
