RESIDENTS NEAR ELLINGER TEMPORARILY EVACUATED AFTER GAS LEAK

  

Residents in the Ellinger area of Fayette County were evacuated after a natural gas leak early this (Tuesday) morning.

Around 3 a.m., the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a leak at the well site on Kasmiersky Road near Shumacher Road.

An emergency notification was sent out for evacuation of one square mile around the incident.  Due to north-blowing winds, residents living within three miles north were also evacuated for safety precautions.

The leak was contained by oil well representatives, and residents were allowed to return home shortly after 9:15 a.m.

FM 955 was closed to traffic from Highway 71 to Rusk Street in Fayetteville as traffic was rerouted.  The roadway was opened to thru traffic around 11:30 a.m.

Responding to the scene were the Ellinger Fire Department, Emergency Management Chief Craig Moreau, and the Hays County Special Operations and Response Team for the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) region.  The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and TxDOT assisted with traffic control.