March 12, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Firefighters Respond to North Highlands’ Gas Leak

Shreveport Fire Department crews were called out early this morning to a ruptured gas line at the intersection of Old Mooringsport Road and Ravendale Drive. When Captain Glen Robinson from the department’s North Market station arrived on the scene, a white cloud of gas could be seen close to the ground in front of the residence.

It appears that a vehicle had driven off the road and into a yard at the intersection, striking and completely removing the gas meter. The shattered meter was recovered a short distance from the spewing gas line. Because of the time of the incident, 5:53 a.m., fire officials did not feel the need to evacuate nearby residents. The safest place for them to be at the time was where they were - in their homes. However, traffic in and around the area was rerouted until the leak could be repaired by crews from Arkla-Reliant Energy.

Arkla-Reliant Energy workers were able to plug the leak and replace the meter, leaving the North Highlands’ neighborhood to return to their normal around 7:40 a.m. Additional hazardous material specialists/firefighters were called in from Central Fire Station to monitor the situation and stand by if needed.

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