Gas line break causes school lockdown, evacuation in Norman

BY JENNIFER GRISWOLD AND TAMI ALTHOFF

Published: October 9, 2008

NORMAN -- Seventeen people were evacuated from their homes and an elementary school was put on lockdown today after a high-pressure gas line ruptured in northwest Norman. No one was injured.

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The 12-inch gas line owned by ONEOK, a parent company of Oklahoma Natural Gas, began spewing gas shortly before 9:30 a.m. after being struck by a bulldozer operated by a contractor clearing land for a new housing development in the area of Tecumseh Road and 48th Avenue NW, Norman Deputy Fire Chief Jim Bailey said.

"They've bled the lines down and opened the roads back up," Bailey said. Bailey did not know if residents had returned to their homes.

Don Sherry, a spokesman for ONG, said no homes lost natural gas service as a result of the rupture.

"We were able to re-route supplies to customers in Norman and Oklahoma City. To the best of my knowledge it hasn't affected service to any customers," Sherry said. "That line has been shut down, and they will be making repairs later today."

Bailey said the residents of eight homes on Hillview Drive, just north of the leak, were evacuated immediately. After fire officials determined there were no natural gas fumes in the air, students and staff at Roosevelt Elementary School, 4250 W Tecumseh Road, were allowed to stay at the school but remained indoors with windows closed, Roger Brown, assistant superintendent for Norman Public Schools, said. The gas leak occurred about 1/4-mile from the school.

Witnesses said the noise from the leak was extremely loud and could be heard from some distance.

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