Some students were complaining of nausea. Fire officials decided to
Smokey Barn News
Friday March 13, 2015
Greenbrier, Tenn.
Gas-like Odor Sends Calvary Christian Preschool students Home Early
Greenbrier Fire was called to the Calvary Christian preschool located at 2806 Hwy 41 South in Greenbrier this morning. Church Staff were concerned about a strong smell of gas inside the building. Some students were complaining of nausea. Fire officials decided to evacuate the building for the safety of everyone while waiting for Piedmont Gas officials to investigate. Natural gas is odorless and colorless. For this reason, an additive called mercaptan is used in natural gas, it’s a sulfur-like odor that smells similar to rotten eggs, this additive helps to identify gas leaks. Mercaptan is non flammable and non toxic, it’s only unpleasant to smell according to Greenbrier Fire Chief Kyle Hamill.
The church staff has decided to send all students home early for the day. Central Piedmont Gas officials have brought in a hazmat team to investigate the pumping station adjacent to the church and has the situation under control and there is no known danger at this time.
Piedmont Gas PIO David Trusty told Smokey that a container holding Mercaptan has been leaking. Due to wind direction and high moisture constant in the atmosphere the Mercaptan was affecting a wide area in its apex but is now declining as cleanup efforts continue.
Engineers estimate that the situation should be under control by 5:00PM this evening. Until then, if you smell gas in or around your home, treat it like you would normally and report it to Piedmont Gas, their number is 1-800-752-7504.
The concentration of the strong smelling Mercaptan at Calvary Christian preschool had a lot to do with the schools proximity to the leaking container.
An automated call will be going out to Piedmont Gas customers about the situation shortly Trusty said but in short, if you smell gas be sure to report it but the odor itself is not harmful.
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Pass Gas? on yeah, passing through Greenbrier on one it near ridgetop it smell like sulphur (rotten eggs) and as you get ready to enter Springfield, Tn. it smells like a natural gas leak, it is so strong it irritates the inside of your nose. With this strong of a smell and there being a house next to it and a Church you can one day expect an explosion. But who cares? do the city of Greenbrier? If they did they would do something about it, inside of just sending kids home.