TAMPA, Fla. — A shelter-in-place order has been rescinded for residents near a natural gas line rupture in Tampa on Tuesday.
Tampa Fire Rescue said crews are at the scene of the eight-inch natural gas line rupture in the area of N. 30th Street and Bougainvillea Avenue. TECO said the pipeline was damaged by third-party construction equipment.
People who live nearby described the overpowering odor in the air Tuesday morning, that went away by the afternoon.
“It smells gassy. I was wondering where all that was coming from," said Ronnie Thompson.
“You can smell that gas when you walk out the door," said Rhodney Mills. "I was way around the corner. You could smell it. It was bad.”
N. 30th St. and Bougainvillea Avenue remain closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
The Hillsborough County Tax Collector's Office in North Tampa will stay closed on Tuesday after the gas leak. The office will re-open at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, for normal business hours.
TECO officials said the repair could take several hours.
Florida unlicensed contractor faces a bond normally reserved for murderers and violent criminals.
