Gas Leak Forces Evacuation Of Glenwood Apartments

A gas leak late Saturday morning forced the evacuation of a Glenwood apartment complex.

The Mills Community E-911 Communications Center was notified by Black Hills Energy of the leak shortly before 11 a.m. The apartment complex is located northwest of the intersection of Sharp and Locust Street.

“They called in to dispatch (center)  and said there’s a gas leak at the apartment complex. They’re evacuating everyone and need assistance,” Mills County Emergency Management Director Larry Hurst said. “Fire and law were dispatched out to create a safe area.”

Hurst said initially a shelter for residents of the apartment complex was established in the basement of Grace United Methodist Church. With the timeline for repairing the leak undetermined, Hurst said Black Hills later made the decision to house the residents overnight at Hotel Arthur

Gabe Barney, a specialist for Mills County Emergency Management, said 10 residents were housed at the hotel and some others found housing with family members who reside in the area.

Barney said there were some mapping issues that created challenges for Black Hills crews as they worked to determine the location of the leak.

“It was in the parking lot where they found the leak,” he said. “It was from a gas line that was severed from the main gas line.”

The location of the leak was determined to be under the parking lot in front of one of the apartment units. Repairs were completed Saturday night and residents were notified shortly after 10 p.m. that they could return to their homes.