Gas leak prompts evacuations, road closures in Suffolk
Published 11:32 am Tuesday, June 17, 2025
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A natural gas leak at the intersection of Jordan Avenue and Pruden Boulevard prompted evacuations and road closures Tuesday morning, according to Suffolk Fire & Rescue.
Emergency crews were dispatched at 10:04 a.m. on June 17. Responders arrived at 10:07 a.m. and reported a strong odor of natural gas. Officials said an excavation crew struck a two-inch high-pressure natural gas line while working in the area.
Virginia Natural Gas was notified immediately and arrived on scene at 10:55 a.m. to assist with containment. Due to the large volume of gas escaping, fire officials closed Pruden Boulevard at its intersections with Edward Avenue and Godwin Boulevard.
Eight homes in the area were evacuated—five on Jordan Avenue and three on Edwards Avenue. As a precaution, residents were temporarily relocated.
The incident commander notified Suffolk Emergency Communications Center that the gas leak was secured at 11:31 a.m. Pruden Boulevard was reopened to all traffic at 11:35 a.m., and all displaced residents were cleared to return to their homes.
Fire crews diverted traffic during the response, and Suffolk Public Works established detours at the affected intersections.