Gas leak forces Marietta hospital to relocate some patients

MARIETTA, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Nurses, doctors, and firefighters in Marietta are now in the process of relocating dozens of patients who were moved from the green tower of WellStar Kennestone Hospital after a gas main break Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities told FOX 5 News a construction accident at 3 p.m. led to the break and the gas line which caused strong odor to seep into the Green Tower near the emergency room. As a precaution, first responders urged the hospital staff to evacuate to the Green Tower.

"As soon as our crews arrived, we noticed a pretty strong odor and that's why we made the decision to relocate the patients. The distance between the area in the Green Tower where the patients were and where they had to go was not that far so it was a pretty simple move. We're in the process of getting them back to where they need to be now," said Marietta Fire Chief Timothy Milligan.

The vice president of WellStar Kennestone Hospital said she was not sure how many patients had to be relocated, but did say patient care was not in jeopardy.

"We train for emergencies like this. We are clinicians. This is what we do and that care is going to continue through the relocation process," said Dr. Mary Chatham.

The fire chief said the broken gas main was repaired and sealed by 5 p.m.