Buildings evacuated while crews contain gas leak in Stowe Township

STOWE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Dozens of people have been evacuated because of a gas leak in Stowe Township.

According to Columbia Gas, a crew was sent to repair a leaking service line on Sexton Road in Stowe Township, near the McKees Rocks Bridge.

When they removed the dirt from atop the service line, gas was released into the air.

Four surrounding warehouse buildings were evacuated for at least two hours, affecting about 40 employees, the Stowe Township fire chief said. Traffic in the area was also blocked off during that time.

"They were at the end of the river," said Ed Meyer of Tri-State Office Furniture. "They were already out of the building because the smell was really bad."

One person was checked for lightheadedness. No other injuries were reported.

Columbia Gas crews capped and sealed the service line. The company could not say how long the line had been leaking.

Cox Media Group