Residents are back in their homes and Park Avenue East is now open to traffic after Union Gas employees responded to downtown Chatham due to a "major gas leak".
A section of Park Avenue East between Hyslop Street and Park Street was closed for a period of time Monday due to the natural gas leak. Houses and businesses in the area were also evacuated as a precaution. No injuries have been reported.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent issued a media release Monday evening, stating that emergency responders were called to the area around 1:30 p.m.
EMS on scene said a gas pipe was ruptured on a construction site outside of the Pet and Wildlife Rescue building on Park Avenue East. Witnesses on scene said the animals were left in the building when it was evacuated and pet owners were not being allowed back in to get their pets out at the time.
Witnesses said they could hear the gas leak and that it sounded like a fire hose. One witness said they thought the sound was coming from the nearby car wash before realizing it was the sound of the gas leak.
Residents near natural gas leak on Park Ave East may return to their homes, although natural gas service may not be restored. https://t.co/KzqiMcEXw7
— Chatham Kent (@MunicCK) October 22, 2018
“Natural gas is not toxic, it simply has the potential to displace the oxygen we need to breathe. [Since] natural gas dissipates rapidly outdoors, there is no danger unless leaks happen inside buildings," said Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent medical officer of health. "Natural gas is odourless, the rotten egg smell is added to enable detection of leaks. The smell is detectable at levels far, far below dangerous concentrations."
Residents with ongoing issues or concerns related to the leak can call Chatham-Kent Employment and Social Services at 519-351-8573.
-With files from Natalia Vega.