Natural gas leak prompts precautionary evacuation of 20 homes at Applewood in Medina

Photo from Medina FD: Medina firefighters evacuated more than 20 homes after a natural gas meter was damaged by falling ice.

MEDINA – A residential gas meter that was damaged by falling ice from a roof resulted in an uncontrolled gas leak at Applewood Mobile Home Estates on Sunday afternoon.

Medina firefighters were dispatched at 4:48 p.m. for a reported natural gas leak at 1 Pebbleridge Drive, with the caller noting a strong smell and sound of gas outside.

Upon arrival Medina firefighters detected a strong odor of natural gas. Medina firefighters notified Orleans County dispatchers and requested an expedited response from New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG).

At the same time, firefighters conducted door-to-door notifications and safely evacuated more than 20 nearby homes as a precaution, ensuring the immediate area was cleared until the hazard could be mitigated, said Steve Cooley, the Medina fire chief.

Due to the extent of the damage to the meter, firefighters were unable to shut off the gas supply and were required to await NYSEG personnel to secure the leak, Cooley said.

Medina firefighters kept Engine 11 and Engine 12 strategically positioned on either side of the incident scene and supplied by a nearby fire hydrant as a precautionary measure to ensure immediate fire suppression capability if needed, Cooley said.

NYSEG representatives arrived on scene and worked to safely stop the flow of natural gas, he said.