Natural Gas Leak Stopped In Palmer Lake

A cold January night isn’t a good time to be without natural gas for heating and cooking. But Robert and Karolina Long found themselves in that situation after a gas leak was traced to a line under their mobile home.

“The gas fumes were high enough that they were concerned,” said Karolina Long. “They had to shut the electric off, they had to shut the phones off because if the phones should happen to ring, they could possibly set the trailer off.”

The leak was reported just before 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Elephant Rock Mobile Home Park on Westward Lane. According to Black Hills Energy, crews found a low level of gas in the Longs’ home. As a precaution, the utility evacuated around 20 homes. Electricity and phone service to the area was turned off to avoid a spark that could ignite the gas fumes.

The Longs said their electricity returned but their gas would remain turned off until they hired a plumber to repair the leak. Black Hills Energy said the Longs are responsible for fixing the leak because it’s on the couple’s property. What exactly caused the leak remains unclear.

The Longs said they didn’t smell gas at the time, but smelled it previously when the utility found other leaks at the park.

“Black Hills Energy came out last month and said we were fine,” said Robert Long. “They found three leaks on the other side of us, then they came out today and said (the leak) was ours.”

Long said the utility gave him two electric space heaters for warmth until the gas leak is patched.

Black Hills Energy said the evacuation was lifted at 5:30 p.m.