Several hundred Delaware County homes evacuated due to natural gas leak

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Several hundred homes in Delaware County were evacuated Wednesday evening due to a natural gas leak, according to the Columbus Division of Fire.

Battalion Chief Jeffrey Geitter told 10TV that firefighters were called shortly before 6 p.m. to a home in the 9000 block of Emerald Hill Drive, east of U.S. Route 23 in Lewis Center, on a report of a natural gas leak.

Arriving crews smelled gas as they received additional calls from nearby homes, prompting another response, Geitter said.

Firefighters then began shutting off gas and evacuating residents, moving door to door to alert them.

No gas was found inside any homes firefighters checked, according to Geitter. No injuries were reported.

Joe Pemberton, president and CEO of Suburban Natural Gas Company, which provides service in the area, said the leak happened after a tree fell on a regulator station. Gas to about 30 to 40 houses was shut off as workers inspected the leak.

There was also overpressurization of the supply system, which caused relief valves on the gas meters to pop — indicating the system was properly working, Geitter added. Pressure levels have since gone down.

Geitter advised residents who arrive home after the evacuations not to turn on light switches, use open flames or ignite anything flammable. They should also stay out of the house and call 911.

He said houses without gas overnight should contact Suburban Gas to have it safely restored.

Although a gas leak of this scale is “very uncommon,” Geitter added, “We go to several (gas leaks) every day. Most of them almost always are remedied well. Same here tonight so far.”

Suburban Natural Gas Company serves about 21,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers and has a staff of 35.

A Columbia Gas technician was also called to the scene as firefighters continued to notify more residents.

The incident remains under investigation.