FORT WORTH, Texas — Fire crews on Friday responded to reports of a vapor gas leak in Fort Worth just one day after a gas leak was reported near the Alice Carlson Applied Learning Center in the 3300 block of Cantey Street. That campus remained closed Friday as crews worked on repairs, according to Fort Worth ISD.
Fire crews responded to the intersection of E. 7th Street and Commerce Street shortly before 1 p.m. on Friday. Officials said they found people self-evacuating from a business where construction crews were working on a gas main that had ruptured.
Crews set up a Hazmat branch and began monitoring the air quality in surrounding businesses and didn’t find any issues, according to the Fort Worth Fire Department.
Crews shut off the gas and cleared the scene, according to fire officials. They say there’s no immediate threat to the area. Atmos confirmed they still have technicians on scene there, though, to confirm the area is safe.
"While performing planned construction work in the area, a contract construction crew working near Seventh Street and Commerce Street in Fort Worth caused an unintentional release of natural gas," Atmos confirmed in a statement. "Atmos Energy’s highly trained technicians responded and turned off the gas to the affected area. Atmos Energy’s technicians remain on scene to confirm the area is safe, make the necessary repairs, and work to restore gas service to the area. Residents may experience traffic delays and should seek an alternate route."
Restaurant General Manager Steve Till says he and his staff had to leave the Petroleum Club on the 40th Floor. Till says he had already made calls earlier in the week when his club had to close because of the previous gas supply shut off during repairs. This time, they decided it was safer to leave.
"I know when I came down about 1:15, I made sure our club was everybody was out. I could smell gas immediately in the lobby," said Till.
Atmos Energy also says they responded to an odor call nearby in the 700 block of Main Street in Fort Worth Tuesday and made repairs.
The owner of Grace Restaurant in the same block says he rushed his employees to safety when they started smelling gas. He says he evacuated his staff from their 7th and Commerce Street establishment and took them to another downtown Fort Worth restaurant he owns a few blocks away.
Atmos Energy has been in contact with the businesses impacted by the gas leaks, which had hoped to be somewhat back to normal for the weekend.
"Friday night is one of our big nights," said Till, "We're now going to try to get a hold of all the reservations that we've had. We have to make sure everybody knows not to come back down."
This week's second gas line repair comes the same day Dallas County District Judge Dale Tillery issued a temporary restraining order for repairs at the Sandman Hotel. He scheduled a hearing for February 2, 2024, but the cleanup and repair work at the Sandman Hotel is on hold until then as investigators work to learn more about what caused that explosion.