Natural gas pocket closes road

An ODOT crew hit a pocket of natural gas while taking soil samples yesterday afternoon just south of Stryker. The gas never ignited and the fire departments that responded blocked off U.S. 6 between Ohio 66 and Ohio 191 and the adjoining county roads. The Assistant Fire Chief Bob Sperling told the Bryan Times these pockets of natural gas are usually a byproduct of water wells and not enough to actually tap into for production. He said they’re more of a nuisance. No homes had to be evacuated and no one was hurt. The road will remain closed until the gas dissipates and the ODOT spokesperson did not know when that will be.