CATSKILL — Some areas of Catskill were evacuated Tuesday afternoon after a contractor ruptured a natural gas main.
Residents on Broome Street and Embought Road, in the area of Catskill Elementary School, were evacuated, Catskill Fire Chief John Holt said Wednesday.
At about 1:07 p.m., Greene County 911 sent Catskill Fire Company, Town of Catskill Ambulance and Catskill Village Police to the scene at 770 Embought Road after receiving reports of a natural gas leak.
When crews arrived, fire officials requested that Central Hudson Gas and Electric respond to the area.
The evacuees included residents of several homes and about 50 residents of two senior apartments, Autumn Grove and Orchard Estates. The residents included local entertainer Flo Hayle. Catskill firefighters moved the residents of both buildings to an outside area behind Orchard Estates, Hayle said. “The firefighters did a wonderful job. There were some residents who are on oxygen. Firefighters offered to transport those tenants by ambulance if needed,” Hayle said.
The 4-inch gas main was ruptured by a non-Central Hudson contractor, who was digging at Catskill Elementary School, said Joe Jenkins, associate director of media relations at Central Hudson.
Arriving workers from Central Hudson assessed the damage and determined that the pipe that was broken was not serving any customers. Workers were able to cut the pipe off and plug it, Jenkins said.
Crews completed the work and sealed the gas line at 2:33 p.m., Jenkins said.
Residents who lived around the school were then permitted to return to their homes.
There were no reported injuries.
Village of Catskill Department of Public Works assisted at the scene.
The contractors at Catskill Elementary are working in the parking lot, in front of the school, creating a new pick-up and drop-off area for parents.
The work is part of the first phase of a $40.8 million capital improvement project approved by voters in February 2019.
The project was initially scheduled to begin in June 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic.
The state Public Service Commission reminded excavators, contractors and homeowners that state law requires them to call one of the state’s toll-free one-call centers before starting any excavation or digging project.
The number to call from anywhere in the state is 811.