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Natural Gas Service Shut Off For Thousands; Restoration To Take Days

SALIDA, Colo. (CBS4) - Around 4,000 homes and businesses in Salida and Poncha Springs were without natural gas because of a broken pipeline.

 

A hospital was forced to cancel all operations because it also had no natural gas.

Salida fire officials say a high pressure gas line ruptured on Highway 50 near Poncha Springs on Tuesday.

Now, repairs are made, but all of those gas meters need to be turned back on.

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(credit: CBS)

Atmos Energy shut down service Tuesday and says the disruption will continue into Wednesday until technicians restore service.

The impacts in the community are felt by nearly everyone.

"We just decided for today we would just do ice cream and potato salad and chips and things that were already made here that we didn't have to worry about getting hot water to clean everything up," said Jeannie Watts who works at Mama D's Deli.

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(credit: CBS)

Schools had to be let out early on Wednesday giving parents another hurdle to jump over.

"They can't feed the kids lunch, so that's another issue that changes parents work schedules, Boys and Girls Club and babysitters. It affects a lot of different things you don't think about," Watts said.

Officials say the restoration process will take several days because technicians will need to enter each home affected.

If the homeowner or an adult is not home, that homeowner will have to call Atmos Energy to have their service turned back on.

Anyone with questions is urged to call 888-286-6700.

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