Sykesville and Howard County fire crews responded to a gas line struck in the 6300 block of Rt 32/Sykesville Road around 8:00 am Monday morning. Sykesville crews arrived on the scene to see high pressured gas shooting out of a road construction crew’s trench that they had been working in. The construction crew had severed a 1.5” high pressure natural gas line while working on a water main leading into the nearby businesses. Responding units arrived to check on the gas levels and to shut the power off to the surrounding businesses. Maryland State Police closed Rt 32 in both directions to prevent any possible ignition of the gas fumes from passing vehicles. Emergency response crews from BGE arrived around 8:30 to assist but had to request additional resources due to the magnitude of the leak and of the additional equipment needed.

Multiple calls were dispatched for gas odor in the Eldersburg area businesses and residences northeast of the gas line break. Units from Sykesville, Gamber and Winfield responded to these calls. Additional BGE crews arrived at the scene to crimp off the line. The water main to the businesses had been shut off and the gas line was able to be crimped off around 9:30 am this morning.

Fire crews were able to clear the gas leak on Sykesville road, but were quickly dispatched to respond to natural gas odors in the 6300 block of Liberty Road and on Lee Lane. Maryland State Roads will keep Rt 32 closed until BGE advises them to reopen.