Some Evacuated After Major Gas Leak In Lawrence Co.
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – More than a dozen residents were forced to evacuate their homes in Lawrence County Friday morning because of a major gas leak.
The leak was reported at the intersection of Airmont and Delaware Avenues in New Castle around 9 a.m.
Authorities say the gas leak happened when crews working near the intersection hit a four-inch gas line.
Emergency crews evacuated one block near the scene.
A neighbor said about 20 to 30 residents were evacuated from their homes.
"There was a Bobcat in front of our house, the guys were working there," said resident Dean Masajada. "And all of a sudden it sounded like a jet engine. And my daughter said, 'There's gas company guys running around house to house.' And so he came to our house and I could barely hear him ... and he told us we had to leave."
Billy Jean Cioffi said crews had just finished installing a meter in her home when she smelled the gas.
"I had somebody come in the house to help me do some things today and she said she smelled gas everywhere. The next thing I know is there coming to tell us to evacuate the house," she says.
Many people drove around in their cars trying to keep warm.
The gas company officials were called to the scene to make repairs.
The gas was shut off, no one was injured, and most people will be able to get back into their homes with heat before the end of the day.
The intersection of East Fairmont and Delaware Avenues reopened just after 9 p.m.
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