Natural gas leak prompts HAZMAT response in Hillsdale

HILLSDALE — A HAZMAT situation near the heart of downtown Hillsdale on Sept. 13 prompted at least one voluntary residential evacuation.

The incident occurred near the intersection of Budlong Street and Waldron Street where contractors — who were utilizing a Ditch Witch to lay a new fiber line — compromised a natural gas line, causing a leak into a sanitary sewer line.

A strong smell of natural gas filled the neighborhood as emergency personnel, Michigan Gas Utilities, Hillsdale City Police, Department of Public Services and Hillsdale’s Board of Public Utilities converged on the area.

Hillsdale City Police & Fire Chief Scott Hephner said Michigan Gas Utilities employees were on scene before the fire department even arrived Tuesday night and were back again Wednesday morning working to repair the damaged line.

Hephner said the situation Tuesday may not have warranted a mandatory evacuation — which was the call of the on-scene incident commander — but that fire and/or police protocols could have led to a mandatory evacuation if explosive levels of natural gas had been detected.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Natural gas leak prompts HAZMAT response in Hillsdale