By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – A gas leak reported near Depot Street in Columbiana on Nov. 2 has resulted in road closures and the evacuation of two buildings in the immediate area.

The leak reportedly happened at about 10 a.m., and the Shelby County License Office and Shelby Woods Apartments were evacuated shortly thereafter, according to Shelby County Chief Financial Officer Butch Burbage.

“They haven’t pinpointed where the leak is at this point in time,” Burbage said, adding Alagasco crews, Columbiana police and fire personnel and city officials responded. “They shut off gas services to our county services building. They’re still continuing to work on it.”

Burbage said the leak had reached the sewer system before it was reported.

“It was obvious when I pulled up that there was a bad gas leak in the area,” Columbiana Police Chief Lamar Vick said.

The license office resumed normal operations at 11:30 a.m., but parts of Depot Street and Collins Street, which runs between the license office and Shelby Woods Apartments, remained closed as crews worked to repair the leak.

Burbage said he was uncertain of the cause of the leak.

“I don’t know if it’s a situation where we have older gas lines in this area that over time have become problematic,” he said. “This is the first (leak) we’ve had to close a building and evacuate a county building.”

Check back for updates as more information is released.