Ruptured gas line causes concern

The volunteers of the Jasper Fire Department and other emergency crews were called to the intersection of Florine and Austin Streets shortly before 6:00 on Tuesday afternoon when it was reported that a natural gas line had been ruptured and was spewing gas into the air. Firemen say the incident occurred when linemen from the City of Jasper's Electrical Department were in the process of setting a new power pole and struck the gas line. Word is that the large auger which was attached to a boom truck struck the two inch steel line only a few feet down. The linemen immediately cleared the area and called for help. Firemen and police immediately cleared the area and at last word firemen were standing by and trying to keep any source of ignition away from the area until workers from Centerpoint Energy can cap the leak. Firemen say the winds are helping to dissipate the gas, reducing the danger. Chief Brandon Duckworth did not call for an evacuation of the area, saying the homes closest to the leak were empty. Austin Street is located one block east of the intersection of Main and Verna Streets, a few blocks north of the Jasper County Courthouse. As of 10:30 pm, employees of the gas company were still working to shut off the gas and repair the line and the fire department had been released from the scene and the leak was finally stopped in the early hours of Wednesday morning.