Downtown Blue Ridge Natural Gas Leak

BLUE RIDGE, Ga. – Crews continue to work on a Natural Gas leak reported earlier this morning. City workers hit a natural gas line on West First Street prompting a mandatory evacuation in the area.

Atlanta Gas Light officials along with Fannin County emergency personnel are on the scene to address the issue.

“We have a dig crew here now to get the line clamped off.” Fire Chief Larry Thomas explained about the progress on the situation.

Thomas went on, “It’s not as simple as just turning off the gas to the line. That would disrupt a large area of our county.”

A crew from Atlanta Gas Light is presently digging an area near the break.

“Once they can get the line uncovered, they can clamp it off and begin work to repair the broken line,” Thomas added.

When the clamp is in place, repairs are expected to move quickly.

Fire Chief Larry Thomas and Fannin County EMA Director Robert Graham are monitoring the situation closely and have notified Fannin County School System (FCSS) that it is safe to start returning students and staff to Blue Ridge Elementary.

FCSS sent out the following message:

We have received clearance from public safety officials that we may now return Blue Ridge Elementary students to their campus. Students are being transported from Fannin County High School back to Blue Ridge Elementary at this time. The usual end of the day procedures for parent pick up and bus dismissal will be followed at all schools with no changes. Again, Blue Ridge Elementary students are returning to their campus now, and when the school day ends today, all schools will dismiss at the usual time using their normal afternoon procedures. Thank you.