There is still no fix for a dangerous fuel leak at Gas USA on Middle Avenue, Elyria Interim Fire Chief Joseph Pronesti said at a 3 p.m. press conference.

Contractors have dug a 7-foot-deep trench in the gas station’s parking lot to try to contain the spill, but fuel is still leaching into the soil from large tanks beneath the station’s pumps, he said.

Emergency crews have opened manholes on East Avenue to vent gasoline fumes that seeped into the sewers overnight. Pronesti said the build-up had reached explosive levels early Thursday.

“Right now, the threat of any kind of explosion has gone down drastically,” he said at the press conference.

Amy Higgins, spokeswoman for the Elyria Schools, said there were no fumes at the high school on Sixth Street.

She said there were a few concerns about how some students would get home because of the firefighters’ blockades on East Avenue, but no students reported any problems at dismissal.

The dozens of homes surrounding Gas USA were not evacuated although several residents said they have opted to leave.

Pronesti said the homes are pretty much safe for now because the gas fumes are being contained to the sewers instead of drifting into basements.

There should be some kind of permanent solution to contain the gas leak in the next 24 hours, the chief said.

 

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