Gas leak in Irmo leads to evacuations, fire department says

A gas leak has led authorities to evacuate some residents from an area near Irmo.

The Irmo Fire Department said a construction company hit a major gas line on Bush River Road on Friday. Firefighters have closed the roadway between Woodland Hills and Westover Road, the department announced on social media.

Some residents have been evacuated, the post said, while residents of 10 nearby homes were been told to shelter in place, turning off all electronics and heating and air units.

The Lexington Sheriff’s Office is directing traffic around the area affected.

A fire department spokesman said the line had been “pinched” shut shortly before 1 p.m., and Bush River Road would likely reopen once firefighters clear the scene.

The public is asked to stay away from the area for the next few hours.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 11:37 AM.

Bristow Marchant

The State

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Bristow Marchant covers local government, schools and community in Lexington County for The State. He graduated from the College of Charleston in 2007. He has almost 20 years of experience covering South Carolina at the Clinton Chronicle, Sumter Item and Rock Hill Herald. He joined The State in 2016. Bristow has won numerous awards, most recently the S.C. Press Association’s 2024 education reporting award.  Support my work with a digital subscription