Durham gas leak stopped, road reopens

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – A road in Durham has reopened following a gas leak on Tuesday afternoon.

8:15 p.m. update

Durham fire officials say all fire crews have cleared from an area where a gas leak caused evacuations and power outages.

At this time, power is back on in the area, according to Durham Deputy Fire Chief Chris Iannuzzi.

Iannuzzi says to re-enter a locked home that has not been cleared, residents are asked to meet with a gas representative at the end of Alcott Road to have your home checked before re-entry.

Avondale Drive will remain closed for the next four hours while additional repairs are made to the gas line, according to Iannuzzi.

7:20 p.m. update

A gas leak that caused a road closure in Durham has been stopped.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Chris Iannuzzi, house-to-house monitoring is underway to allow residents to re-occupy their homes.

Ianuzzi asks motorists to continue to avoid the area.

6:30 p.m. update

A gas leak Tuesday afternoon in Durham is likely to keep a road closed until Tuesday night, officials said.

The leak was reported at 3:08 p.m. near the intersection of Avondale Drive and Camden Avenue, according to Durham spokeswoman Kammie Michael.

Authorities say a six-inch underground gas line began leaking and venting the gas into the atmosphere. Readings of gas have also been detected in the city’s storm sewers.

Firefighters and police evacuated 25 houses around Avondale Drive from Markham Avenue to Camden Avenue, according to Christopher Iannuzzi, Deputy Fire Chief, Durham Fire Department.

Camden Avenue is closed in the 1700 block. Ianuzzi believes the road will be shutdown until about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday night.

More than 550 customers lost power as a result of the gas leak.

A firefighter had to be treated on-scene for heat exhaustion, Iannuzzi said.

There is no word about how the gas leak began. Drivers are asked to avoid the area.