MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
NEWTON — Newton Fire/EMS, along with multiple state and local partners, is investigating the source of natural gas detected in the Fox Ridge housing development.
Kansas Gas Service crews are using vacuum trucks to safely remove gas from the ground and reduce the risk of ignition. Officials emphasized that nearby homes are not in danger. The exact source of the gas has not yet been identified.
The situation first came to light last Friday during a routine site survey conducted by Kansas Gas Service near Southeast 10th and Logan. Subsequent inspections confirmed that the gas is not coming from the company’s own pipelines.
On Tuesday morning, the Harvey County Commission approved a disaster declaration to provide additional resources for the investigation. That declaration brought in two Regional Hazardous Material teams from the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office to conduct atmospheric monitoring in the area.
Several other agencies are assisting in the response, including Harvey County Emergency Management, the Kansas State Fire Marshal, the Kansas Geological Survey, the Kansas Corporation Commission, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.
Officials say the investigation will continue until the source of the gas is identified and the situation fully resolved.