Ybor City Gas Leak Causes Late-Night Evacuation

A natural gas leak caused the June 15 evacuation of a buiding in Ybor City, where the Tampa Fire Rescue Hazardous Material Team subsequently discovered the cause of the leak "in a hose fitting in the laundry room."

A 30-year-old man living in one of several apartments on the second floor of the building, at 1612 East 7th Ave., was transported to Tampa General Hospital with mild symptoms of nausea from the gas exposure, according to the Tampa Fire Rescue report.

Firefighters reportedly were dispatched at 10:09 p.m. to the building, which houses as well the La France vintage clothing and jewelry store.

Firefighters were focused on the reported leak in the laundry room on the second floor of the building.

"It is unclear how long the leak was going on before it was detected," according to the report. "The leak was clamped off, then fully repaired. It took the crew
approximately 20 minutes to stop the leak."

The building reportedly had to be cleared of natural gases "trapped in all the rooms." Tampa Fire Rescue used a "vent truck" to ventilate the affected rooms, "which had high concentrations of natural gas, according to Hazmat gas meters.

The truck was used "because of its capabilty to force large amounts of air into any building in order clear the building of the smoke of gas."

No other injuries were reported.

Residents were allowed back into their apartments shortly before midnight.