Lubbock Fire Rescue and Atmos Energy responded to another gas leak, caused by city crews, Wednesday.
“We have a policy, if we hit a gas line, we call it in to our dispatch office and our dispatch office will call Atmos and the Fire Department,” City of Lubbock Public Works Supervisor Mike Gilliland said.
The specific protocol guides crews before and after they dig.
“Number one, you don’t jump in there and start digging,” Gilliland said, “And of course you never skip…anytime you’re going to dig, call for locates.”
Despite their best efforts, the workers struck a line. Gilliland said it could happen because they didn’t know the line was there in the first place.
“You’re relying on a guy that drew a map in 1952, and you’re thinking that nothing changed at the surface, the street is not bigger or didn’t move…” Gilliland said, “And that the guy drew it exactly the way that it was put in. It’s not usually the case.”
Lubbock Fire Rescue said the cost they incur each time a leak happens is minor. Atmos said the dollar amount could be in the thousands.
“If we’re fairly confident that it’s 10 feet over [here], then we’re going to start digging and going pretty strong,” Gilliland said.
In a statement, Atmos energy said:
“So, although it takes more time, to keep all of us out of the gaseous environment (blowing gas), we can dig remote bell holes so that we can then squeeze off the gas supply to the line and take precautions to prevent static electricity or other sources of ignition, allowing us to fix the leak in a safe environment, again protecting Atmos Energy employees and Lubbock Fire Rescue employees.”
