FULL STORY: Zanesville Fire Department Responds To Gas Leak

The Zanesville Fire Department was called to the scene of a gas leak Tuesday evening.

A home at 463 Hedgewood Avenue has filled with natural gas, and the occupants of the home as well as residences to the north and south were evacuated. The owners of the home across the street were instructed to remain inside. Lieutenant Doug Hobson of the Zanesville Fire Department says there was no way to tell if the house was close to exploding from the leak, but precautionary measures were taken.

"I can tell you that our gas meters went off real quick. It has to be at that very fine line and it has to have the ignition source. If you walk in and flip a light switch, thats one command that we give as soon as we get a gas leak. On our route to the scene, the guys make sure we’re not flipping any light switches. We dont even touch a thermostat to shut the furnace off because we could cause an ignition source."

A young woman and a dog were home at the time of the leak and the two were removed from the home unharmed. The Zanesville Fire Department, Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency and Columbia gas also responded. The Police Department had closed Hedgewood Avenue and nearby alleys for safety measures but they were opened again shortly after 6PM. The source of the gas leak remains under investigation.