Editor's Note: This story was originally posted Thursday, July 2 and was updated on Sunday, July 5, with additional information.
At approximately 11:20 a.m July 2, the Crawfordsville Fire Department responded to the 900 block of Tuttle Avenue following reports of a natural gas leak.
Upon arrival, crews determined that contractors working in the area had struck a 2-inch natural gas main. Due to the size of the leak and the potential hazard to nearby residents, the Crawfordsville Fire Department and Crawfordsville Police Department immediately implemented a unified emergency response.
As a precaution, 31 residents were safely evacuated from the immediate area while a shelter-in-place order was issued for surrounding residences that were not in imminent danger. Residents remained temporarily displaced from approximately 11:20 a.m. until nearly 2 p.m. while emergency personnel and utility crews worked to secure the scene.
To protect the public and provide emergency access, roadways in the affected area were temporarily closed, including Mill Street, Tuttle Avenue, Voris Street, and Elmore Street.
CenterPoint Energy successfully isolated and mitigated the gas leak at approximately 1:04 p.m., allowing emergency crews to begin reopening the area and assisting residents with returning home safely.
The incident occurred during periods of extreme heat, creating challenging conditions for first responders. One Crawfordsville firefighter was treated for heat-related illnesses on scene while operating during the incident and another firefighter was transported to the ER for further evaluation and treated.
Despite the significant resources committed to this emergency, the Crawfordsville Fire Department maintained uninterrupted emergency response through the event. During the nearly three-hour incident, Crawfordsville Fire and EMS also responded to seven additional emergency calls, including another natural gas leak requiring the assistance of CenterPoint Energy and multiple EMS incidents that required ambulance transport outside Montgomery County.
The department was able to maintain service without interruption thanks to the immediate recall of off-duty firefighters and EMS personnel, whose rapid response ensured emergency coverage remained available for the community.
The Crawfordsville Fire Department extends its appreciation to the agencies whose coordinated efforts contributed to the safe resolution of this incident:
• Montgomery County Central Communications
• Crawfordsville Police Department
• CenterPoint Energy
• Crawfordsville Electric Light & Power (CEL&P)
• Montgomery County Emergency Management
• Crawfordsville Parks and Recreation
• Crawfordsville Public Library
• Rock Point Christian Church
