Ye Olde Durty Bird downtown evacuated workers strike Columbia Gas line

Natural gas could be restored by noon Friday to more than 80 customers

9/5/2013

Natural gas could be restored by noon Friday to more than 80 Columbia Gas customers in the warehouse district who lost service late today after a work crew struck a Columbia line.

The customers, including about 20 commercial accounts, were along South St. Clair Street, from Washington Street to south of Lafayette Street, said Chris Kozak, Columbia spokesman.

Toledo firefighters were called to St. Clair and Washington about 6:20 p.m. after workers nearby struck the gas line. The restaurant Ye Olde Durty Bird was cleared and the street closed. It was unclear who struck the gas line or why they were digging, Mr. Kozak said.

Columbia crews through the night planned to shut the main and purge natural gas from the system. Afterward, the gas line will be repaired, and Columbia employees will visit each customer to relight appliances.