Alexandra fire crews sealed off a section of the main
highway yesterday in the commercial centre of the town as
they searched for the source of a reported gas leak. The
building evacuated, Currie Motors Toyota, houses four
businesses. Photo by Lynda Van Kempen.
Reports of a gas leak prompted the evacuation of four
businesses and closed a stretch of the state highway for half
an hour at lunchtime in Alexandra yesterday.
Central Otago More FM announcer Rebecca Flannery said staff
at the radio station noticed a strong smell of gas in the
building and contacted the fire brigade.
"Everyone noticed it and it was definitely enough to make you
feel a bit headachy."
The Currie Motors Toyota building, which houses three other
businesses, including the radio station, was evacuated
shortly after 1pm.
The Alexandra Fire Brigade officer in charge, Station Officer
Shane Ryan, said any report of a gas leak was taken
seriously.
A short section of the state highway, near the business, was
closed while the matter was investigated, Mr Ryan said
yesterday.
"Obviously, we don't want to cause too much disruption, and
people have been good about it, but then we treat a hazard
such as a gas leak pretty seriously. Because it was
lunchtime, many of the people from the building were out
anyway."
Gas-detecting equipment was used but failed to pick up any
trace of gas at the scene, he said.
"It seems to have already dispersed."
None of the workers in the building required medical
attention.
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