Louisville, Ky. — A gas leak in downtown Louisville led to the evacuation of several buildings Tuesday morning, including Metro Hall, as firefighters and emergency crews responded to the scene. The situation was declared under control by 2 p.m., according to Louisville Metro Emergency Services.
The Louisville Fire Department, the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), and LG&E were all called to the 200 block of South 5th Street, between Jefferson and Liberty streets, around 9:20 a.m. after reports of a gas leak. Allan Rubin, who works in a nearby building, described the strong odor of gas he noticed while walking to his parking spot. “There was definitely a strong smell of gas,” Rubin said, adding that the scent was noticeable even in the alley leading to his building.
Upon arrival, emergency crews began air testing and quickly detected high levels of natural gas both inside buildings and in the surrounding area, including the sewer system. Louisville Fire Assistant Bobby Cooper confirmed that the tests showed Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) levels exceeding 10%, indicating the potential for an explosion.
“We quickly picked up on dangerous levels — high levels — of natural gas outside and inside buildings, as well as within the sewer system,” Cooper said during a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities declared a Level 2 Hazmat emergency, leading to the evacuation of several buildings between 5th and 6th Streets and Jefferson and Market Streets. Approximately 40 firefighters, including two Hazmat crews and eight additional units, responded to the scene. Officials worked to ventilate the affected buildings by opening windows and using monitoring equipment to assess the gas levels.
Notably, Louisville Metro Corrections, the judicial center, and city hall were unaffected by the evacuation orders, as were any buildings west of 6th Street. No injuries were reported, although a bystander was treated for an asthma attack near the intersection of 6th and Jefferson streets. It was unclear whether the asthma attack was related to the gas leak.
MSD personnel assisted by opening manhole covers to check gas levels and provide ventilation. Cooper noted that brisk winds helped to dissipate the gas, and LEL levels began to decrease significantly as a result.
By Tuesday afternoon, crews had determined that the source of the leak appeared to be an 8-inch plastic gas line running along 5th Street between Jefferson and Market Streets. LG&E crews shut off the gas supply to several buildings along 5th Street while continuing their search for the exact location of the leak. Excavation work on the street was expected to last into Wednesday or beyond.
Cooper suggested that the recent extreme weather conditions may have contributed to the leak, as utility lines running in close proximity to one another may have expanded and contracted with fluctuating temperatures. However, this theory was not immediately confirmed.
Although there was no longer an immediate threat of explosion, Cooper advised the public to avoid the area bounded by 4th Street, 6th Street, Chestnut Street, and Market Street. He emphasized that foot and vehicle traffic should stay clear of the area for safety reasons, as crews continued to mitigate the situation.
“It’s the middle of the afternoon, it’s a workday, and we have people that are still walking through the area,” Cooper said. “They see the fire line tape, the yellow tape. Just be cautious and understand that it is an ongoing mitigation. It’s a dangerous situation — at least it was.”
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg stated that the evacuated buildings were unlikely to reopen Tuesday, urging individuals to avoid returning until at least Wednesday.
Officials are continuing to investigate the cause of the gas leak, and residents are reminded to call 911 if they detect any natural gas odor in the city.
