[Press Release] : Natural gas leak forces evacuation on university campus

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Captain Eric Hartman - (573) 874-7644

Natural gas leak forces evacuation on university campus

COLUMBIA, MO (May 16, 2008) - Columbia firefighters were called at
11:24 a.m. on Friday, May 16, to 416 South Sixth Street, Laferre Hall-MU
Campus, for a report of a natural gas leak.

Firefighters arrived and discovered a one-inch natural gas line had
been severed at the Laferre Hall construction site. Due to the wind
conditions and the proximity of the leak to Laferre Hall, natural gas
did enter Laferre Hall prompting the evacuation of approximately 100
people from the building. Fire crews, with the assistance of the
University of Missouri Police Department and the Columbia Police
Department, closed both Sixth Street and Stewart Road in the immediate
area of the incident. Additionally, a one-block area surrounding the
incident was evacuated of pedestrian traffic. As a precaution, fire
crews and Ameren UE crews used combustible gas monitoring equipment in
Leferre Hall and several other adjacent buildings, including Jesse Hall
to ensure that gas was not entering other buildings. Both the
evacuations and road closures were lifted after approximately an hour
and a half.

There was no fire, structural damage or injuries related to the
incident. Ameren UE crews responded and stopped the gas leak.

The Columbia Fire Department worked closely with, and received valuable
assistance from both the University of Missouri and Ameren UE during the
course of the incident.

A total of seven fire apparatus, 28 fire personnel and one ambulance
responded to this incident. 

A graduation ceremony scheduled at Jesse Hall near the time of the
incident was delayed for a short time while fire crews determined that
no natural gas had entered the building.

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