From FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth · Joseph Rowe · · 1m 30s
Gas leak empties Dallas apartment complex
Nearly 300 residents evacuated from a 90% occupied complex Friday night after Atmos Energy discovered an outdoor gas leak during routine inspection.
In brief
Nearly 300 residents evacuated from a 90% occupied complex Friday night after Atmos Energy discovered an outdoor gas leak during routine inspection. A routine gas inspection uncovered a leak that forced the evacuation of an entire apartment complex, with residents potentially displaced until Tuesday due to gas service…
Gas leak discovered during inspection
Atmos Energy workers found an outdoor gas leak at Alexan Riveredge Apartments on Turtle Creek Boulevard during a routine inspection Friday evening.
Nearly 300 residents evacuated
Dallas Fire-Rescue was called at 7:23 p.m. Friday. All residents of the 90% occupied five-story building were evacuated as a precaution, even though no gas was detected inside.
Separate kitchen fire earlier that day
Firefighters had already responded to a kitchen fire on the fourth floor at 3:06 p.m. Friday. The fire was quickly extinguished and was unrelated to the gas leak.
Two gas lines capped by Saturday
Atmos crews discovered a second parallel gas line while isolating the original 16-inch main. Both lines were capped and the leak stopped by 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Gas service could stay off until Tuesday
The apartment building and six nearby businesses on Levee Street may not have gas service restored until Tuesday. Officials had not announced when residents could return by Saturday evening.
Red Cross helps displaced residents
Most residents arranged their own hotel rooms. The American Red Cross provided overnight accommodations for five residents, while DART buses offered cooling centers during the emergency.
What it means
A routine gas inspection uncovered a leak that forced the evacuation of an entire apartment complex, with residents potentially displaced until Tuesday due to gas service repairs.
