JFD: gas leak, contained, Thurs. a.m., courthouse, LEC

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Fire Department was called about 8:45 a.m., Thursday to 205 6^th Street Southeast, to a  gas leak, at the Stutsman County Courthouse, and Law Enforcement Center.

Jamestown City Fire Department Lt. Sheldon Mohr said occupants of the courthouse and Law Enforcement Center were evacuated as a precaution.  He said the gas level in the air was not sufficient to have to evacuate the 9-1-1 Dispatch area or the Correctional Center.

MDU arrived at the scene to shut off the gas supply, with the meter located in an area between the courthouse and the LEC.

The gas leak was contained about 9:22 a.m., with the building’s HVAC unit to extract the gas, as those evacuated were allowed to return to the building.

The probable cause of the leak was a malfunction in the gas meter.

Two city fire units, and five fire fighters were dispatched and were on the scene about 45 minutes, with 24 on standby at the fire hall in case they were needed to respond.

Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist, whose office is located in the basement of the LEC issued a statement which says,

At approximately 8:38 a.m. this morning, a building employee detected a natural gas leak outdoors on the NE corner of the Law Enforcement Center (LEC).  The air handling systems for both the LEC and the Courthouse were bringing the smell of gas into the two buildings.  Jamestown Fire Department was dispatched at 8:42 a.m. and Montana Dakota Utilities (MDU) was notified.  The air handling systems for both buildings were shut down.

As a precaution, all employees of the two buildings were evacuated with the exception of the Communications Center Dispatchers, Corrections staff and inmates.  Jamestown Police assisted with road closures and traffic control around the buildings.

The leak was a result of a relief valve attached to a gas meter that did not close properly causing natural gas to be released.  MDU arrived on scene at 9:12 a.m. to shut off the gas supply, contain the leak and make repairs.

MDU staff checked both buildings for any possible air quality issues.  Finding none, employees re-entered the buildings at approximately 9:30 a.m. The air handling systems for each building were used to extract the low levels of gas.  There were no injuries as a result of the incident.