(Spirit Lake)– A natural gas leak this (Wednesday) morning forced the evacuation of the Dickinson County Courthouse.
Spirit Lake Fire Chief David Kollasch tells KUOO news authorities were called to the scene around 5:30 a.m. after getting a report from a dispatcher in the Communications Center at the courthouse of a strong smell of natural gas. Kollasch says the building was evacuated as a precaution. Jail inmates were temporarily housed at the Spirit Lake Police Department.
Upon arriving, Kollasch says firefighters had to dig out the gas meter, which was completely buried in snow. He says they were then able to get the gas shut off without incident and officials with Black Hills Energy arrived. Kollasch says meter readings no longer detected any gas in the courthouse, and personnel and jail inmates were then allowed to return.
Kollasch says the leak was in a two inch feed line. He wasn’t sure what caused the leak and whether or not it was leaking inside or outside the building. Kollasch says crews with the utility company were working to find that out.
Kollasch says this (Wed.) morning’s incident is a good reminder for everyone to dig out around their gas meters. He says heavy amounts of snow and ice around meters can cause problems with regulators and may even cause lines to break.
Kollasch also urges anyone with a fire hydrant on their property to dig those out as well. He says the time it takes firefighters to do that during an actual fire can easily mean the difference between being able to save a structure and not being able to.
Spirit Lake firefighters were on the scene of this (Wed.) morning’s gas leak about an hour and-a-half.
An ambulance also stood by as a precaution, but no injuries were reported.
