Little Rock, Iowa — A potentially crisis-level situation was averted in Little Rock on Wednesday night after a gas leak was discovered inside a home on the town’s east side.
According to Alliant Energy spokesperson Justin Foss, the call came into their operations center about 7:40 p.m. He says a gas pipe inside a home on Section Line Road was hit and natural gas was escaping. Foss says crews responded to the scene and shut off the gas at the meter, and locked it out. He says they then began ventilating the home. The Little Rock Fire Department was called to the scene about 8:30 p.m. to assist with ventilating the house of the gas. Fire Chief Joe Schilling says some remodeling was being done in the house, and workers struck the gas pipe.
Foss says in the event of a gas leak, there are some steps to take, and the order in which you take them is very important.
He says that while you may think you’re helping to dissipate the gas or the smell, there is a very important reason that they don’t want you to open or close windows and doors.
Again, Foss says after you’ve left the house and are a safe distance away, then make the call. He says if you hear a hiss of gas, call the gas company. But if you hear gas blowing or rushing, that indicates more gas is escaping and you should call 911 as well.
