Chatham-Kent looks to lift gas leak evacuation order in Wheatley

With no hydrogen sulfidegas detected since June 4, officials in Chatham-Kent are looking to rescind a state of emergency and evacuation order that has stretched into two weeks.

The municipality said in a media release on Friday that there is no justification to continue to the state of emergency and that the evacuation order will be terminated "hopefully as early as noon on Saturday."

Chatham-Kent officials have consulted with several provincial government ministries, which haveconcluded that no additional action from the municipality is recommended.

The state of emergency was put into effect on June 3 after a leak of hydrogen sulfide, ahighly toxic,flammable gas, was identified.

According to the municipality, 27 people and anumber of businesses were ordered to leave the downtown area. Thegas leak was first detected in the basement of a restaurant on Erie Street North.

Officials believedthe gas may have been emanating froman abandoned well but crews could not identify the source.

Firefighters have been on the scene around the clock and will remain in place until the evacuation order is lifted.