A ruptured gas main turned part of Fortville into a no-go zone Thursday afternoon, as emergency crews shut down the 300 block of East Ohio Street and urged everyone to steer clear while they worked to clamp off the leak.
Vernon Township fire and EMS units were dispatched to the scene and stayed on site through the afternoon while utility crews moved in to tackle the broken line.
In a post on the Vernon Township Fire Department Facebook page, officials made it simple: “Please avoid the area of the 300 block of East Ohio Street.” The department said both emergency personnel and utility workers were on scene working to secure the leak.
What officials say
Vernon Township’s official information notes that the fire department covers Fortville, McCordsville and the rest of Vernon Township, which puts the East Ohio Street rupture squarely in its territory. As outlined in the department’s Facebook update, firefighters and utility crews were focused on securing the damaged main, but the initial alert did not mention any injuries or a wider evacuation.
Officials and utility workers had not released additional details at the time of the alert, and we are continuing to monitor updates from local authorities and the responding utility crews.
How neighbors should respond
According to CenterPoint Energy guidance and standard utility safety practices, anyone who smells gas or finds themselves near a suspected leak should leave the area immediately and move to a safe distance. The idea is to get out first, then call for help, rather than stick around and investigate.
People in the area are urged to avoid open flames, not operate electrical switches and not use phones while still inside the affected area. Once at a safe location, residents should call 911 and then contact their gas utility’s emergency line from a neighbor’s phone or another safe device.
What to expect next
In situations like this, crews typically isolate the damaged section of pipe, shut off service if needed, ventilate and monitor the surrounding air, then make repairs and retest the system before reopening streets and allowing residents to return. The American Gas Association notes that this process can take hours, depending on how extensive the rupture is and how long testing and monitoring require.
We will update this story as the Vernon Township Fire Department, utility crews or local officials release more information.
