COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Hundreds of residents in a morth Columbus neighborhood were evacuated Monday evening after a natural gas system malfunction caused gas to vent from home meters, according to Columbus Fire.
Crews were called just after 6 p.m. to the area around 9010 Emerald Hill after multiple 911 callers reported the smell of gas. Fire officials say a gas system overpressurization caused relief valves on hundreds of home gas meters to open and release gas as a built-in safety response. The affected area stretched several blocks, bordered by Highway 23 on the west, railroad tracks on the east, Lazelle Road to the south, and a cemetery to the north.
As a precaution, firefighters went door to door asking residents to evacuate while gas levels were monitored and pressure was restored. Several hundred people were displaced for a period of time on Monday evening. No injuries were reported…