Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services report that Grayson Highway at Simonton Road is still closed and fire personnel remain on the scene of a fire that is burning following an early morning wreck that ruptured a natural gas line.
“The fact that the gas vapors are ignited, is limiting any escaping gas from entering the atmosphere and causing a threat to the surrounding area. The gas company is working to stop the leak and is having to dig in multiple locations to secure the low-pressure side. The incident is still ongoing at this time.,” Capt. Tommy Rutledge with GCF&ES said in a press release at 7:30 a.m. Friday morning.
Rutledge said firefighters responded at 3:19 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, to find a vehicle heavily engulfed in flames.
“They discovered that the vehicle hit an above ground gas valve and caused the line to rupture. The gas fed flames impinged on an adjacent power line and utility pole in front of Tim Stewart Funeral Home. Firefighters were not able to immediately extinguish the blaze due to the threat of escaping gas vapors,” Rutledge said.
The fire was allowed to burn until the gas company was able to stop the leak. The decision was made to allow the fire to burn until the gas company was able to stop the leak. The power company was requested to disconnect power to the area and the road was closed due to the incident. Firefighters deployed a fire attack hose line to protect gas company workers and nearby exposures There are no evacuations or injuries reported.
Motorists are being asked to avoid the area at the moment. Agencies assisting include Lawrenceville Police Department,
Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Lawrenceville Gas, Lawrenceville Electric, Georgia Power
GDOT
The suspect/driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital by police after being apprehended.
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