Bad day turns worse for Elida Road business

LIMA — A small problem snowballed Wednesday at an Elida Road business when an environmental work crew cleaning up a spill of diesel fuel ruptured a gas line.

The natural gas leak around 1:20 p.m. forced an evacuation of Henson Pools and Spas, 1945 Elida Road, said Capt. Matt Dillon of the American Township Fire Department.

At first, firefighters and Allen County Emergency Management detoured traffic to Robb Avenue, but a light breeze helped dissipate the volatile gas and removed the risk of an explosion, Dillon said. Elida Road was reopened after about 10 minutes.

“We went inside with gas meters and didn't get any dangerous readings,” Dillon said. “We're waiting for Dominion Gas to get here and get the line shut off, and taking all necessary precautions until then.”

Dominion personnel arrived about an hour later and shut off the line.

Property owner Ron Henson said the incident began Monday with a fuel spill.

The business, which Henson recently sold to Chad and Carolyn Eversole, included an unused fuel tank in a fenced area behind the store. A support leg on the tank buckled Monday when employees attempted to move the tank, causing a fuel spill. Henson said the spill didn't amount to more than a gallon and a half of fuel, “but the rain made it scatter,” he said.

Heavy rain Monday night caused some of the fuel to reach Dug Run, a ditched stream between the Henson Pools' parking lot and Elida Road. Henson and the Eversoles reported the spill and were advised to hire Allied Environmental Services to assess and clean up the damage. Allied placed absorbent booms on the stream's surface and made plans to return Wednesday to remove mud from the stream's bed.

“Allied Environmental was out here cleaning up the mud, and their backhoe guy struck the gas line,” said Allen County Emergency Management Director Russ Decker.

Small flags in the area indicated a utility service had marked the gas line and other underground hazards to avoid.