Hazel Park Gas Leaked Capped After Local Residents Forced To Evacuate
HAZEL PARK (WWJ) - A contractor drilling holes in the ground may have led to a gas leak in Hazel Park forcing several residents to leave their homes.
The leak, near I-75 and Woodward Heights / 9 Mile, led to the closure of a church and forced four homeowners to evacuate the area. Hazel Park firefighters are still monitoring; but, by Monday afternoon, it appeared that the leak had been capped.
Fire Chief Richard Story said crews have filled a hole with about 80 feet of concrete.
A methane gas leak in Hazel Park has three homes evacuated and the closure of the I 75 Service Dr. to John R. No injuries, but authorities worry about explosions. @WWJ950 @FOX2News pic.twitter.com/K4f5xVhRBf
— Charlie Langton (@charlielangton) December 11, 2017
Astile Stevenson was among residents being who spent Sunday night elsewhere.
"Stayed at my daughter's last night," said Stevenson. "The other folks across the street ...there — their daughter's with their dogs. It's just scary, when it hits home."
Chuck Simon, who lives in the area, says it's a concern. "Oh yeah, I mean, methane gas you could have an explosion ... a spark, somebody throws a cigarette out of their car - something. You know, it could go up like crazy."
Fire officials said testing would determine what type of gas was escaping. Methane gas is a naturally occurring gas; there's no smell but it is highly explosive.