Rosita Valley Area Residents Evacuate Due to Natural Gas Line Leak

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2018

The Maverick County Sheriff Department reported receiving several telephone calls from residents in the Rosita Valley area of Southern Maverick County near the intersection of El Indio Highway (FM 1021) and Rosita Valley Road regarding the strong odor and smell of natural gas on Thursday, March 15, 2018, at approximately 4 P.M.

The Eagle Pass Fire Department attended the reported natural gas line leak located near the Kickapoo Shell Gasoline Station. Law enforcement authorities contacted West Texas Gas Company, the owner or operator of the natural gas line, to immediately send a crew to check on the natural gas line and repair, if any, the line if necessary.

While law enforcement waited for the West Texas Gas Company personnel to arrive at the scene of the gas line, residents of Rosita Valley and surrounding areas were assisted in evacuating their residences due to the strong smell and odor of natural gas in the area. Traffic on El Indio Highway and Rosita Valley Road was temporarily closed, causing a minor traffic jam of residents seeking to evacuate their homes or get to their homes and the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel.

The Texas Department of Public Safety assisted the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation of the natural gas leak and traffic control.

At approximately 5 P.M., a crew of West Texas Gas Company arrived and were able to fix the alleged leak of natural gas on their pipeline located near the intersection of El Indio Highway and Rosita Valley Road.  Shortly thereafter, residents were allowed to return to their homes in Rosita Valley and surrounding areas.