Emergency crews in Plano are working to find the source of what firefighters believe is a gasoline leak in the underground sewer sanitation system along a portion of Central Expressway Friday afternoon.
Lt. Daniel Daly, Plano Fire spokesman, said firefighters were called at about 1:30 p.m. Friday to investigate an odor at a restaurant along the northbound U.S. 75 service road between East Park Boulevard and Parker Road. Crews discovered a strong smell and called a hazardous materials unit to investigate.
Daly said what was believed to be gasoline was leaking from an unknown source into the underground sanitary sewer system. As a precaution, several businesses in the nearby area were evacuated.
Plano Police at one point said the fire department stated there was a “high probability of a possible explosion based on the fumes in the sewage system.”
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"We've got an issue with a leak into the sanitary sewer system, likely gasoline, in the area between Park and Parker, on the 75 corridor," said Daly. "We have Emergency services and other City services working to determine the extent of the problem. Roadways and several local businesses have been evacuated out of an abundance of caution."
The U.S. 75 northbound service road between Republic Drive and Ozark Drive was shut down due to the hazmat incident. The closure was later narrowed late Friday to include the service road from Exchange Drive to Parker Road.
It is unknown how the hazmat incident began.
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An update by Plano Fire shortly after 8:30 p.m. said air quality readings above ground were showing safe conditions. As a precaution, road closures in the area will be ongoing until crews find the source of the leak.
There were no reports of injuries or sickness, Daly said.
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