Eustis neighborhood gas leaks prompts 12 home evacuations

Gas leak forcing people out of their homes in Lake County. Yeah, this happened right down the street from where another gas leak led to a deadly explosion last year. Fox 30 five's Marie Edinger is joining us live on the scene right now. So Marie, what is it like out there right now? Hello and the road is back open. You can see that behind me and crews were out here all day. You can still see evidence of that right here where they marked the gas line and over here where they just finished laying down new asphalt. Those crews left honestly just a few minutes ago as we were setting up for this live shot. That call came in as I mentioned around 10 a.m. But it was made safe about 12 30. And as you said, Luanne, this spot is just about half a mile away from where in December there was another Tico gas leak that resulted in a deadly explosion. The gas was just flowing up into the sky. Janet Braddock lives right down the road from this broken Tico gas line at South Central Street and Key Avenue in historic neighborhood of Eustace. Huge leak man. It was like really like a geyser of gas coming up. Her neighbor noticed the smell before the plume of vapor. He and his wife Tina said it was nauseating. The fire department comes in, knocks on doors, says you need to leave. You need to leave right now. Theirs is among the 12 homes the fire department evacuated while police blocked off the area and Tico workers started on repairs and we were concerned about whether or not it could be explosion. Last time there was a gas leak in this area, it led to an explosion that killed jewelry store owner Wendy Davis. The fire department's final report on that incident said Tico had already clamped off the gas line and was about to give the all clear when Darkland beads and beyond burst into flames. That report also says Wendy had been advised to evacuate but refused. Neighbors said they kept that in mind today as they left their homes at the fire department's request because I don't doubt this could happen again. Tico people's gas told me this was not a gas leak but rather a ruptured line. The city of Eustis explained a contractor was installing fiber internet cables and hit the natural gas pipeline with directional drilling equipment. Ironically, today august 11th is 811 day. Floridians are legally required to notify sunshine 811 before digging within 48 hours. The utility company will go out to mark the area of your gas line. If you take a and hit a gas line, it disrupts the service, could cause a lot of issues for people around you. The fire department again does say that this area is now safe. Live in Eustis Marie at Inter Fox 35