Gas Leak Forces Evacuation Of 50 Tenants From Housing Complex
Charles Rogers

FDNYHaz-Mat and rescue units responded to gas leak in MeadowWood complex on Van Siclen Avenue last week. About 50 residents were evacuated from their building (background, above) for about two hours. Charles Rogers

Twelve Fire Department units and 60 firefighters, as well as units from the FDNY's Haz-Mat and rescue squads responded to a reported gas leak in one of the MeadowWood Houses buildings on Van Siclen Avenue between Cozine and Flatlands avenues, at about 5:15 p.m. on September 5.

No one was injured, but about 50 residents from the sixth floor had to be evacuated until the source of the leak could be found and repaired, sources said.

According to Fire Department spokesman Firefighter James Long and firefighters on the scene, the leak occurred while a contractor was doing excavation in a courtyard adjacent to the building.

Residents said the gas smell "kept getting worse and worse" until somebody called 911.

Firefighters guarded the excavation and leak area and police from the 75th Precinct guarded a wide perimeter around the scene to keep residents and casual onlookers out of danger and away from the odor until workmen from KeySpan could take care of the problem

Long said the leak was repaired and residents returned to their apartments at 7:30 p.m. 

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