After gas leak residents wait for heat

No one used the emergency shelter Prince William County officials set up Friday night after a construction crew cut a gas main in Gainesville, leaving a reported 5,400 without heat.

Battlefield High School was to be used as the shelter site, where cots, blankets and snacks were ready to be passed out by the Red Cross.

Despite temperatures in the lower 30’s, no one came to the shelter and it was closed at 3 a.m., a county spokeswoman said.

“These homes in the area are insulated fairly well and even though the temperatures dipped [Friday] night, their homes stayed warm and people opted to stay in their homes,” said Robert Innes, Columbia
Gas spokesman.

While residents seemed to weather the event ok, it was a long and equally cold night for utility crews, some from as far away as Pennsylvania and Maryland, as they worked to restore gas service.

Utility crews were able to stop the leak at Heathcote Boulevard and Heritage Hunt Drive just before 9:30 p.m. Friday, five and a half hours after the gas leak was initially reported.

Representatives from Columbia Gas were canvassing the neighborhood Saturday to help restore service at each of the affect homes, said Innes. By 11:30 a.m. just 1,818 residents were without gas.

With daytime temperatures in the mid thirties and wind chills in the upper twenties, Innes said crews had orders to restore service to everyone who is home by early Saturday evening at the latest.

Crews were going door-to-door with photo identification to restart gas meters and to relight equipment. Customers who were not home when reps came to houses received a door hanger asking them to
call the gas company to come back out to restore the service.

Innes said people should not attempt to relight gas equipment themselves.

Residents are also asked to call the company, at 1-800-544-5606 if they smell gas. They are also asked not to use matches or motorized tools or appliances if the smell of gas is evident.

Just after 6:30 p.m. Innes reported just 150 homes were still without gas. Most of those residents weren’t home when crews came by to restart the gas.

Innes said reps were making second and third visits to the still affected homes and would be available through the night.

The gas leak erupted as the Friday rush hour was just heating up, forcing the closure of Heathcote Boulevard.

Traffic along U.S. 29 and John Marshall Highway were full of detoured and confused residents wanting to know how they were going to get back into their homes at the height of the incident Friday night.

Catharpin Road was used as they only entrance to get back into the Heritage Hunt neighborhood while Heathcote Boulevard was closed.

More than 20 shops and offices near where the main was cut were also affected by the gas shortage. Without it they also had no heat and were forced to close early.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.