A residential street near downtown Wheatley has been evacuated due to a gas leak in the area.
Emergency crews responded to the Wheatley branch of the Chatham-Kent Public Library on Talbot Street West at around 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, after receiving a report of a strong smell of gas in the area. Fire crews arrived at the scene and located an area behind the library that was “bubbling with water and gases,” which has since been confirmed as hydrogen sulphide.
“This is the last thing we wanted to see. We know this is a terrible thing to happen again. However, all of the agencies are here working, so we just ask for your cooperation while we try to work out what’s going on and try to get the best result we can,” said Fire Chief Chris Case in a video posted to social media.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service said residents on Foster Street between Victoria Street North and Erie Street North were asked to leave their homes as a precaution Thursday afternoon. The evacuation zone was later expanded to include 100 metres of the site, affecting a total of 60 residences. A temporary shelter has been set up at the Wheatley arena at 196 Erie St. N for those who have been displaced.
Gas monitoring is taking place around the area, and a hazmat team from Windsor and scientists from the University of Windsor are also on hand to assist emergency crews.
The public is asked to avoid the area until further notice.
Potential gas leaks have been a consistent concern in Wheatley since an explosion rocked the town’s downtown core in August of 2021.