400 homes in Jefferson County were evacuated after a nearby fracking operation sprung a leak and began shooting invisible gaseous discharge into the air.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says there was no fire, explosion or spillage related to the uncontrolled release about 6 p.m. Tuesday at a well pad in Jefferson County, about four miles south of Wintersville. Spokesperson Bethany McCorkle said the well operator had a safety plan in place that was executed "almost flawlessly," and no environmental impact resulted from what's sometimes called a blowout. Houses within a 2-mile radius were evacuated by the local fire department. McCorkle said residents were back in their homes by midnight. The well will remain closed as the incident is reviewed.