Stations 1, 9, 19 and 26 responded to a broken gas line at the Asten Dryer facility on north Jefferies Blvd, Wednesday 3-June at 0912. Engine 19 arrived and found a back hoe had dug through a two inch SCE&G pipe line behind the plant. The high pressure release was spewing natural gas into the air. Engine 19 blocked off the Robertson Blvd entrance to the plant. HazMat 19 arrived minutes later and a Command Post was established off of Robertson Blvd. Engine 26 responded to the south side of the facility and closed Leith Street. An evacuation of the Lucas Trailer Park was started, but it was later stopped once detection equipment verified there was no threat to the mobile home park. Firefighters set up AreaRae detection equipment at four points around the facility to monitor the air and gas levels. Due to the high pressure, most of the escaping gas was pushed up into the area and it did not stay close to the ground. Handheld gas monitors were deployed in several areas as a precaution.

Several SCE&G Gas Company crews responded from Summerville and arrived about an hour later. They spent two hours digging two holes to contain the leak. The break occurred in an area that was fed from two separate directions, so

both incoming lines had to be pinched off. No injuries were reported during the incident. All units cleared by 1230.

Engine 19, Engine 26, HazMat 19, Medic 9, Medic 19, Rescue 1, and Battalion 1 responded. Assistant Chief David Greene served as Incident Commander.