Update: Aug. 6 at 6 p.m. – Fayette County officials report that the natural gas line has been capped and offices will open as usual on Aug. 7.
Fayette County government offices and the Fayetteville Library in downtown Fayetteville were closed Wednesday after contractors struck a natural gas line. Business is expected to be back to normal on Thursday.
Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Pete Nelms said contractors boring and laying pipe behind the county complex at approximately 11 a.m. struck a gas line.
The Fayetteville Fire Dept. measured gas levels and, at approximately 11:30 a.m., deemed that an evacuation of the government offices and the library were needed, Nelms said. County employees and library staff left the area once the evacuation order was received, he said.
Though government offices and the library were evacuated and crews began working to repair the line, County Administrator Steve Rapson at approximately 2:30 p.m. decided that the buildings should remain closed for the remainder of the day out of safety concerns for employees and the public.
Crews at 3:30 p.m. were still working to cap the leak.
Nelms said he anticipates that government offices and the library will be open on Thursday. He recommended that citizens check the county website at www.fayettecountyga.gov on Thursday to verify that offices have reopened.
