Logan residents were given a rude awakening this morning as a result of a substantial gas leak in the area. A little after 9 a.m. on the 4500 block of 12th Street a resident reported smelling a strong gas odor on the street to authorities. In less than an hour multiple fire trucks were on the scene.
“It was a bad smell,” said local resident Vincent Matthews of the atmosphere he stepped into this morning.
Soon after arriving, firefighters knocked on Matthews’ door as well as those of his neighbors on the 4500 block of 12th Street to evacuate them to safety. The residents, occupying 20 homes in total, were directed to a nearby church, Rehoboth Temple Church of God, at 12th and Wyoming streets. Residents were not given a time estimate as to when they might be allowed to return.
Philadelphia Gas Works was also on the scene investigating the problem. Not long after arriving, the utility company began breaking up the asphalt to find the source of the leak. The area was deemed safe around 11 a.m. and residents were allowed to return to their homes.
This is not the first time this area of Logan has encountered problems with natural gas. Multiple gas leaks have been reported throughout the past several decades. Exactly 27 years ago today, Logan experienced a serious gas leak that resulted in an explosion and damage to four homes near 10th and Courtland streets, just a couple blocks from this morning’s leak. The frequency of such incidents has been linked to Logan’s infamous sinking soil problem.
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