On Friday morning a large gas leak occurred on the west side of Columbus causing several of the areas businesses to evacuate. Around 9:45am firefighters responded to the area between Fisher Road and Hague Avenue. Fisher Road is now closed at Hague Avenue; whole Hague Avenue is now closed at Interstate 70. At this point it is unclear when the road will reopen, while officials have yet to discover the cause and exact location of the leak. At O'Connor, Acciani, & Levy, our personal injury attorneys in Columbus understand how serious a gas leak may be. It only takes one tiny flame to ignite gas, which can cause major destruction to the surrounding areas, severe injuries, and possible death. Therefore, it is key to be able to understand the different types of gas leaks and be able to respond accordingly. Some signs of a gas leak include:
- Bubbling of wet areas
- Dead vegetation in otherwise green area
- Dirt blowing through hole in the ground
- Flames where leak has ignited
- Hissing sound
- Rotten egg odor
- Leave the area and call 9-1-1
- Do not use any electrical devises
- Do not ignite open flame
- Do not attempt to locate source of leak
- Do not shut of any gas valves
- Do not start any automobiles
- If the gas ignites, let it burn, the burning gas will not explode
- If you are digging a hole and strike a gas line, evacuate the area
