Wilkes Rips King's, Sets Record With 10-0 Start

311 Non-emergency Number Also Faces Hang-up

By CHRIS SCHNEIDMILLER; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Wednesday, January 14, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





DURYEA- Approximately 20 Main Street residents were forced from their homes
again Tuesday morning when utility workers found natural gas leaking from
another line ruptured by a downed power line. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The charged line fell Monday night and apparently sent electricity through
a metal box in the street to a gas main, opening a small hole and sparking a
fire in the roadway, according to a PG Energy official. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Two more leaks were found Tuesday morning, one in the 1200 block of Main
Street. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The reason we evacuated is we found some gas readings and as a precaution,
said, `Let's get this street evacuated,' " PG Energy spokesman Albert Fereck
said. "It meant there might be some residual gas in the area." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He added the cause of the downed line and the leaks are being investigated
by the utilities. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Firefighters knocked on doors at 25 homes between Church and Hope streets
shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday. Most residents were at work, so only about 20
people were cleared from their houses, said Duryea Fire Chief Bob Szymanski. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Displaced homeowners were allowed back in their homes at 10:45 a.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We're getting chased in and out," Edmund Stancavage said as he and his
wife left the Avoca Hose Co. station. "I hope it's the last time." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The same homes are in the three-square-block area evacuated at about 5:30
p.m. Monday following the initial rupture. About 100 people were evacuated as
firefighters battled the blaze before PG Energy workers repaired the damage. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "A lot of our personnel feel this is very unique," Fereck said. "I've
talked to people with 30, 40 years experience who haven't seen anything this
unique." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The evacuation ended shortly after 10 p.m. Monday. Gas to 150 to 180 homes
was restored around midnight. Nearly two thirds of 1,600 Pennsylvania Power &amp;
Light Co. customers lost service for almost 80 minutes. The estimated 500
other customers had electrical power restored by 11:30 p.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Electricity from the downed line apparently traveled through water lines,
sparking and damaging close-by gas mains at two points, Fereck said. A PG
Energy crew found and repaired one leak at 2 a.m. Tuesday below the road at
Church and Spring streets. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At about 6:30 a.m., workers found gas readings in the 1200 block of Main
Street. An undetermined amount of gas flowed under three properties and leaked
fumes in the homes, Fereck said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Stancavage said the smell of gas was in his home's first floor and
basement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He said he didn't mind putting up with the inconvenience of moving twice
because of the leak. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "As long as we don't get blown up. That's all that matters," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The gas main was shut down at 8:30 a.m. Workers found the leak at noon and
repaired it quickly, Fereck said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Damage costs will be limited to repairs of the gas mains, street and power
line, Szymanski said. Those costs are still being compiled. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm sure it's going to be quite high," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TI

Duryea Residents Ousted Again 
Utilities Are Investigating 
The Downed Power Line And 
Gas Leaks That Forced People 
From Their Homes Monday 
Night And Tuesday Morning

Duryea Residents Ousted Again Utilities Are Investigating The Downed Power Line And Gas Leaks That Forced People From Their Homes Monday Night And Tuesday Morning