North Stafford, Va. –– Residents evacuated Tuesday night after elevated levels of methane were detected near their North Stafford homes were allowed to return home Thursday night.
Officials say the unusually high levels – nearly explosive levels – have dissipated, and that the methane appeared to have been emanating from the soil around the affected town homes behind Stafford Marketplace off Garrisonville Road (Va. 610).
The five families who were displaced by the investigation into possible hazardous gas near their homes in the Woodstream subdivision in north Stafford were allowed to return home last night, soon after utilities had been restored. On Thursday, February 10, void spaces near the homes where methane readings were within or above explosive limits earlier this week were opened up and filled with porous material allowing the gas to vent away from the homes.
“Based on tests of the soil after the venting was complete and the air in the homes, I determined that the sites did not pose an immediate threat to life and health,” said Stafford Fire and Rescue Chief Rob Brown. “At no time did we find any indication of dangerous gases inside the homes.”
All utilities were restored at approximately 6:00 p.m. yesterday, and the displaced residents allowed to go home soon after. The Fire and Rescue Department remained on site overnight and plans to be on site today until further test results are received confirming the preliminary results. Tests by numerous agencies including the Smithsonian Institute, Virginia Tech, Department of Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection Agency and hazmat technicians with the Stafford Department of Fire and Rescue have indicated that the methane is emitting from the soil material in the area. Tests are continuing to determine exactly how the methane is coming up through the soil. Results continue to indicate that methane does not exist inside the homes. The methane that is emanating from the soil begins to dissipate through the porous material that was placed in the void spaces, and does not pose a danger to the residents.
Methane is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas that is lighter than air. The odor that led residents to call the gas company Monday evening was determined to be unrelated to the methane gas. Out of an abundance of caution, Fire and Rescue staff installed methane monitors in the affected homes to alert homeowners if methane does become present in the home. However, if an individual smells an unusual odor at any time, he/she should call 9-1-1 immediately.
-Stafford County Press Release
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