Gas leak capped, evacuation order lifted in Rosenberg

ROSENBERG, TX (KTRK) -- A gas leak in Rosenberg is now capped and an evacuation order lifted, according to officials.

However, neighbors in that area are still shaken by the leak.

One resident, Javier Menjivar, said, "All of a sudden I see this last night, and I'm like, 'What's going on?' Somehow they told me that they (had) an escape of gas. Yeah it's pretty nervous because we come outside, you know, and we smell all this gas, you know, it's all dangerous right now."

It started Wednesday evening along a three-block radius in Rosenberg.

Center Point crews came in blocking off east of Avenue F and Ward street and north of Avenue H and part of Old Richmond Road.

Barbara Smolik, public information officer for the Rosenberg Fire Department, said, "Eight blocks long is how they started from the origination point from where someone smelled it and they just kept tapping into it until they found out where the leak was."

And because crews weren't sure exactly were the leak was, some 50 families has to be evacuated.

The Red Cross and the First Assembly of God Church stepped in to help families and provide shelter.

Sr. Pastor First Assembly Church Deborah Prihoda said, "That's kind of our heart to be able to be there for people because we're all neighbors."

Yet, at the same time residents aren't surprised this gas leak happened. In fact, some say they've smelled the gas for weeks.

Menjivar said, "Yeah we're happy because my parents saying every morning you could smell that gas real strong. ... I'm pretty happy now that they're actually doing something to it."

Neighbor Mark Compean said, "I've been smelling gas when I passed the ditches. I've been smelling gas, but the neighbor in that trailer there said she called...one time and they came out and they said there was no problem."

Now, work is underway to finish the job and get everyone back in their homes safely.

Compean said, "Well, it's good thing they found the leak. You know, it could have been bad."

Residents will receive a tag on their doors with information saying representatives will be going door-to-door to help residents strike up their pilot lights.

We're still looking into those reports about people smelling gas in the weeks before this evacuation and will bring you the latest as we know more. Stay with Eyewitness News for updates throughout the day.