Residents in the Navarro Ranch area of Seguin were told to shelter in place after a reported natural gas leak, with county officials urging people to stay indoors, shut their windows, and steer clear of anything that could spark a flame.
Guadalupe County Texas Emergency Management and the fire marshal urged people in Navarro Ranch to remain indoors and keep others inside as a precaution, according to KENS 5. Officials told residents to close all windows and exterior doors and to follow directions from emergency personnel, the station reported. The order was later lifted, allowing residents to resume normal activities.
What Officials Told Residents to Do
Per the same account, people in the affected area were warned not to smoke, light matches, or use open flames near the area, and those who suspect gas inside a building were told to avoid using electrical switches or equipment altogether. The guidance reflects standard precautions for a suspected gas leak, where even a small spark can pose a danger, according to Dominion Energy.
Anyone who smells gas inside a building or suspects gas is entering should leave immediately if it is safe to do so, the report noted. People who leave a building due to suspected gas were told to call 911 once they are safely away from the structure.
A Familiar Scare for Guadalupe County
This isn't the first time a gas scare has rattled the county. In December 2022, multiple emergency crews investigated reports of a possible gas leak in unincorporated areas between New Braunfels and McQueeney, according to KSAT. The investigation centered on reports of a possible gas leak in the area.
Officials at the time said there was no need to be alarmed, and the fire marshal said no gas service provider had been able to confirm an actual leak, though crews said they would continue investigating calls as they came in, KSAT reported. It remains unclear whether Wednesday's Navarro Ranch situation will follow a similar path, since the current reporting does not confirm the leak's source or whether it has since been resolved.
The Navarro Ranch shelter-in-place order has been lifted, and residents can resume normal activities.
