Natural Gas Pipeline Fails In West Melbourne
By Space Coast Daily // December 26, 2012
No Estimate About Repair Timeline
BREVARD COUNTY • WEST MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Firefighters and Hazardous Materials technicians from Brevard County Fire Rescue are at trhe scene of a natural gas line rupture near Simon Road and Sand Gulley Drive in West Melbourne.
Lt. Jeff Taylor of Brevard County Fire Rescue said dispatchers received multiple 911 calls just before 5:30 a.m. Wednesday reporting an “explosion” followed by a “loud roaring noise.”
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputies and firefighters responded to the area and found the source to be a failure of a natural gas transmission line.
The leak is located in the middle of pasture land located southwest of Simon Road, Taylor said.
Natural gas is a flammable, colorless, odorless, lighter-than-air, non-toxic substance.
Hazardous Materials experts at the scene have determined that no danger exists to residents in the area at this time.
No mandatory evacuations have been ordered, although some residents of Simon Road did self-evacuate to the intersection of Simon Road and U.S. Highway 192 as a precaution.
Taylor said that firefighters have isolated the area around the leak and access to the area is limited to anyone other than emergency responders.
Repair technicians from Florida Gas Transmission have been dispatched to the scene to assess the cause of the leak and perform any necessary repairs to stop the leak.
No estimate has been given as to how long repairs may take to complete. according to Taylor.
Interstate 95 and U.S. Highway 192 remain open to motorists, but Simon Road has been closed at its intersection with Sand Gulley Drive.
