Gas Leak Forces Evacuations Near OU Stadium

A natural gas line was struck Thursday afternoon near the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman causing a leak and forcing a one-block evacuation.

Thursday, June 17th 2010, 1:35 pm

By: News 9


By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- A natural gas line was struck Thursday afternoon near the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman causing a leak and forcing a one-block evacuation.

Authorities evacuated buildings near Jenkins and Lindsey streets as a precaution.

For nearly six hours, crews scrambled to fix the natural gas leak. Crews were finally able to cap the 12-inch line gas line Thursday evening about 5:30.

ONG Spokesperson Don Sherry said repairs took longer than expected because the area that needed to be worked on was clogged with other cables and pipelines, and crews used extra caution digging underground.

The line was cut by a contractor hired by OU to do construction work in the area.

Sherry said cutting off the supply of natural gas should not have affected service to ONG customers in the area.

University of Oklahoma President David Boren issued the following statement on the university's Web site Thursday:

"There is a leak in a natural gas line at the corner of Lindsey and Jenkins, which was caused by a construction accident. Out of an abundance of caution, all members of the university community and visitors should vacate the one-block area from Lindsey to Brooks and Asp to Farmer and remain out of that area until you receive notification on the Emergency Response System."

Athletes in nearby dorms at the University of Oklahoma were also evacuated due to the gas leak.

"The wind is coming from the south and blowing the natural gas to the north, so we've asked everyone to leave the area just north of the leak," said Norman Deputy Fire Chief Jim Bailey. "We have firefighters all around the area testing the air, and at this time the levels of natural gas in the atmosphere are not explosive."

A number of businesses including Subway and the Sooner Shop closed.

"Our boss is pretty upset that we had to shut down," said one Subway employee who wished to remain anonymous.

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