A 2-inch gas line was recently ruptured by a construction worker in downtown Naples, Florida. In order for crews to secure the line, gas had to be shut off throughout the line, leaving many businesses nearby without gas.
Naples source ABC 7 reported no one was injured from the gas leak, but gas was being released from the pipe for at least 90 minutes before crews shut it off. Officials also closed off streets surrounding the leak to prevent any explosions until the fumes were cleared.
"Our intention was to keep any type of ignition source away from the leak so any vehicle or civilian smoking or something could have ignited it while the gas was still in the area," Battalion Chief Pete DiMaria with the Naples Fire Department told the source.
Naples Fire Chief Steve McInerny told Naples News that the gas leak occurred when a worker installing fiber optic cable broke through a pipeline.
"Anytime you have a natural gas leak or any kind of gas leak and your humidity is dropping, you have the potential for a flash fire or an explosion," said McInerny. "This is a major leak in a critical service area."
