Natural Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations In Muskogee

Evacuations were ordered near a metals mine on the far northeast side of Muskogee due to a natural gas leak Friday morning, police said.

According to Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee, the leak was at the site of the old Fansteel mine, located northeast of the Shawnee Bypass and east of the Muskogee Turnpike. Evacuations were ordered within 1,000 feet of the leak and impacted about 25 people, according to an Oklahoma Natural Gas spokesperson.

Those people worked in a nearby business that was evacuated.

Because of wind direction, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol did not shut down the turnpike.

The leak was fixed by about 12:10 p.m., police said.

ONG said the leak was caused by a valve issue. It has been turned off, but no customers are without service, ONG said.