1:45 p.m. UPDATE: A request for residents to shelter in place or not return to their homes has been lifted after a gas leak was detected in the area of Hwy. 61-67 and Montebello Road in Imperial, Jefferson County 911 Dispatch and the Rock Community Fire Protection District reported today, March 19.
A Spire spokesman said the company was called at about 9:11 a.m. today when the odor of gas was reported in the area. Gas was shut off to the area at about 11:20 a.m., and it was deemed safe for people to leave or return to their homes.
Rock Fire Assistant Chief Michael Shafferkoetter said a utility company was replacing a power line pole along the highway south of Autumn Oaks Drive, which leads to the Oaks subdivision. He said residents in Arnold and Imperial reported smelling gas in the area.
“Apparently, they were smelling it all the way over in the Key West subdivision on the other side of Hwy. 141,” he said. “It was a 6-inch main that was broken. Jefferson County dispatch used Everbridge, a notification system, to notify people. I believe they notified people in a mile and half radius of the leak.”
Shafferkoetter said he did not know how many homes were evacuated, and he said the For Kids Only Child Care Center in the area needed to be evacuated.
Jefferson County 911 posted on its Facebook page that a lingering odor of gas may still be noticed in the area.
“This is expected and does not indicate an active hazard,” according to the post.
Jefferson County 911 reported on Facebook that Rock Fire and other agencies responded to the area.
ORIGINAL STORY: A request for residents to shelter in place or not return to their homes has been lifted after a gas leak was detected in the area of Hwy. 61-67 and Montebello Road in Imperial, Jefferson County 911 Dispatch and the Rock Community Fire Protection District reported today, March 19.
A Spire spokesman said the company was called at about 9:11 a.m. today when the odor of gas was reported in the area. Gas was shut off to the area at about 11:20 a.m., and it was deemed safe for people to leave or return to their homes.
The spokesman said another utility company was performing work in the area and a gas line was struck.
Jefferson County 911 posted on its Facebook page that a lingering odor of gas may still be noticed in the area.
“This is expected and does not indicate an active hazard,” according to the post.
Jefferson County 911 reported on Facebook that Rock Fire and other agencies responded to the area.