“Natural gas is not as volatile as generally thought,” Tyrrell County Emergency Management Coordinator Wesley Hopkins told Columbia aldermen January 16.

Hopkins, Tyrrell Volunteer Fire Department Chief Johnny Spencer, firefighter Lee Scripture, and Sgt. Kevin Sawyer with the Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Office were present to answer residents’ questions about repeated gas leaks at the Piedmont Natural Gas (PNG) “city gate” on Ludington Drive.

The four men attended the 7 p.m. meeting at Town Manager Rhett White’s invitation. The third item of business on the board’s agenda was “Natural Gas Concerns — Scottsville Street Residents.”

No residents showed up.

Hopkins explained that he had seen PNG workers “pull up and begin repairing a leak without turning off their vehicle.” He said he had been told it is safe beyond 50 feet when natural gas is leaking in an open-air setting.

Spencer said the pressure valve let off pressure for safety purposes in response to over-pressure. He added that natural gas has “low flammability” relative to propane fuel. He also announced that PNG has scheduled training of TVFD personnel in the near future.

Mayor James Cahoon had opened the conversation by asking if the town needs an evacuation plan for natural gas emergencies.

Spencer said the potential explosion of a large propane tank could require evacuation up to a half-mile radius.

A reported natural gas leak at the city gate before sunrise on January 5 prompted 15 Scottsville Street residents to voluntarily evacuate to Zion Grove Church in 18-degree weather only hours after a four-inch snowfall. Three of them were transported to the church by EMS.

Piedmont Natural gas personnel responded, and the residents returned to their homes after about four hours.

Sgt. Sawyer told the aldermen January 16 that a similar leak at the same place was reported “a week later” — around January 12.