Dec. 03--Homes and a Wyoming Valley West elementary school near the intersection of John Street and Schuyler Avenue in Kingston were evacuated late Monday morning after utility workers ruptured a high-pressure gas line.
Workers from Pennsylvania American Water Company were repairing a water leak when they hit the underground gas pipe around 10:45 a.m., said Kingston fire chief Frank Guido. Guido said the rupture was due to improper marking of the gas line and not the water company.
He said a one-block area, which included Schuyler Avenue Elementary School, was immediately evacuated.
"Oh yeah, you could smell it," said Guido, adding that the gas pouring from the high-pressure line created a powerful noise. "It was deafening."
The students grouped down the street from their school at Thomas' Family Market and were bussed to Wyoming Valley West Middle School. Guido said they could return to the elementary school after lunch.
Workers from the UGI Corp. capped the broken line, and by 11:45 a.m., residents were returning home. Guido said firefighters had to inspect each building for high gas levels before allowing anyone to enter.
Guido said no injuries or complications resulted from the leak and the evacuation went "really smooth."
Copyright 2012 - The Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
