Stephen Hasner | | March 26, 2024
An explosion following a gas leak on Campbellton Road SW in Atlanta caused havoc on Monday as emergency teams responded to a fire at the popular PO Freddie’s BBQ restaurant. The gas line break was attributed to ongoing construction work, leading to immediate road closures and the evacuation of nearby buildings, including a residential complex.
Rakem West and Nakevia Atkins, who were present at the scene, described hearing a significant boom before witnessing the explosion. In their account, they emphasized the fear and urgency as people in the vicinity fled for safety. The cause of the explosion was a buildup of gas inside the restaurant, which had fortunately been empty at the time, thus preventing injuries or casualties.
Atlanta Fire Rescue confirmed that although the fire at PO Freddie’s had been controlled, their teams remained on site to manage any remaining potential fire risks. The gas line’s repair was underway, but no definite timeline was given by Atlanta Gas Light for when the area would be deemed safe and the road reopened.
As the situation developed, Campbellton Road faced significant detours and restrictions, affecting traffic in both directions. This extended to closures on Campbellton Road between Sandringham Road SW and Harbins Road, as well as Dodson Drive from Ivydale to Landrum, to prioritize public safety and facilitate ongoing repair work.
Source: Hoodline