Scary situation as gas escapes on 27 Avenue

Photo by Douglas English

Were you one of the people evacuated on Wednesday due to the gas leak?

As you know, over 300 people in the area of 27 Avenue and Bird Avenue were evacuated after an old 1000-gallon tank exploded. The gas tank, underground is over 60 years old. There is concern that there could be other tanks like this that are old and unexposed and therefore have not have been inspected for years.

For hours, a flame burned that looked almost like a tiki torch, as the gas escaped into the atmosphere.

For most of the afternoon into the evening 27th Avenue was closed from US1 to South Bayshore Drive, then parts were open as the situation came under control. 12 buildings in the area were evacuated for awhile, with Grove Village Gate apartments being ground zero for the incident.

Scary situation.