MEDINA, Ohio – Columbia Gas of Ohio and Medina Fire Department discovered several gas leaks at Medina Village Apartments almost a week after a fatal apartment explosion killed an 18-year-old bedridden man.
Medina Fire Chief Bob Painter said the department called the gas company back to the complex about 10 a.m. Wednesday after a resident complained of a natural gas smell.
Investigators discovered that six of the eight units in one building had leaks. Columbia Gas was expected to check all of the buildings for leaks, Dan Gladish of the Medina Building Services and Code Enforcement office said.
Several stoves and gas heaters were red tagged for leaks, Painter said. Columbia Gas and the fire department officials went building to building to check for more leaks.
The investigators shut off gas to the apartments which means there is no hot water and heat for residents, Painter said. Some residents abandoned their apartments because they don’t feel safe.
Workers discovered that some gas lines were uncapped, while others found a small leak by a stove and gas lines with a missing valve, Painter said. Painter couldn’t give the total number of leaks found during their investigator.
The apartment’s management company, Integrity Realty Group, is responsible for addressing the maintenance issues, Gladish said. Attempts to reach Integrity Realty Group were unsuccessful.
Once the lines inside the apartments are repaired, crews will restore the gas and conduct an inspection to make sure appliance and house lines are safe, Columbia Gas said in a statement.
The company added that the explosion didn’t damage the gas mains connected to the apartment complex.
The explosion happened about 3:15 a.m. Feb. 9 at the apartment complex on Springbrook Road.
The teen who died as been identified as Jacob Drake. Drake’s parents suffered burns over 80 percent of their bodies. They were still listed in critical condition as of Thursday afternoon, a MetroHealth spokeswoman confirmed.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
