THREAT OF EXPLOSION LESSENED

ELYRIA - Officials in Elyria are monitoring gasoline levels in the sewer system and are making repairs after two supply tanks at Gas USA sprung leaks.

In order to make repairs to the leaks, East Avenue was closed between 4th and 16th streets, and 9th street was closed between East and Middle.

Chief Joseph Pronesti of the Elyria Fire Department said officials were concerned of possible explosions in homes. "Our concern was the fumes getting into the basements and then the pilot light, furnace or hot water heaters setting off an explosion. We have been working with Columbia Gas as far as getting that shut off - the natural gas into the homes. Right now we are still trying to stop the leak."

Pronesti said that work crews have dug down seven feet around the tanks and they are attempting to construct a dam to prevent fuel from getting into the sewer system. Pronesti said that manhole covers have been removed to help ventilate the fumes. "Right now, the threat of any kind of hazard or explosion has gone down drastically because we have ventilated the sewers - the fumes are no longer building up in the system. As those fumes come out, the threat is lower." Pronesti said that Firefighters have responded to homes where residences have smelled gas odors, but the levels detected were not dangerous.

The investigation found that gasoline was leaking from two 400-gallon supply tanks at Gas USA, at 9th Street and Middle Avenue, into the sewer system. Officials said an estimated 200 gallons of gasoline leaked into the area around the tanks in the past 24 hours. As of Thursday evening, no homes have been evacuated. However, residents in the area of East Avenue and 4th through 9th streets were advised not to use gas appliances due to the potential present of gasoline vapors.

Pronesti said that the Fire Department will continuing to monitor the level of fumes in the sewers.