JOPPA, Md. — An infrastructure emergency unfolded near Philadelphia Road in Joppa when a gas line was ruptured, leading to a significant response from local authorities.
Residents in the nearby Gunpowder Ridge community were taken by surprise as Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) and Harford County vehicles blocked access to their street. Traffic was being directed in one direction due to the incident.
According to eyewitness accounts, a tree removal crew from Harford County inadvertently struck the gas main while clearing a tree that had fallen. One resident, Dave Czerski, reported hearing a hissing sound and smelling gas in the area.
BGE confirmed that it shut off service at 11:20 a.m. on Monday, stating that there were no reported impacts to customers. However, some residents indicated they received alerts about the gas line break and were advised to shelter in place, while others, like Taylor Jacobs, expressed frustration over a lack of notification.
“We didn’t get no notification. No anything. I have no idea what’s going on,” Jacobs said, reflecting on the anxiety surrounding gas-related incidents.
Concerns were heightened among residents due to a previous tragic incident in Bel Air, where a house explosion linked to a ruptured gas line resulted in two fatalities. Jacobs noted, “I remember the story in Bel Air about the home exploding, and I think about it all the time. I don’t want that to happen ever again especially over here.”
BGE has not provided a timeline for when repairs will be completed but assured the public that it is working diligently to resolve the situation safely.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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