Copperas Cove gas line strike triggers evacuations, power outages

More than 100 Copperas Cove homes lost power and some residents were evacuated Wednesday after a fiber-optic company struck a gas line near Hill Street and North 17th Street, turning a routine utility project into a public-safety response.

The City of Copperas Cove said it was advised Wednesday afternoon that the line had been hit. First responders, Atmos Energy and Oncor Electric were on site assessing the situation as crews worked to stabilize the area and determine how far the disruption spread.

The impact landed in a residential part of the city, where a damaged gas line can quickly create hazards that go beyond the immediate work zone. KCEN reported that over a hundred homes were without power, and that some houses were evacuated for safety reasons after the strike. In practice, that can mean families leaving home with little notice, neighbors facing traffic detours and nearby businesses waiting for the all-clear before reopening.

The episode also fits a pattern Copperas Cove has seen before as fiber work has spread through the city. Local reporting in 2024 said MetroNet and its contractors were involved in 20 utility or gas/pipeline strikes in Copperas Cove between April 1 and Nov. 30, 2024. Of those, 10 were classified as mismarks, three were incidental contacts and seven were inquiry/fault cases, numbers that point to the importance of accurate locates and careful excavation before digging starts.

For residents dealing with utility emergencies after hours, Copperas Cove Public Works says help for water, wastewater or streets issues is routed through the Copperas Cove Police Department at 254-547-4272. Wednesday’s response showed how one strike can ripple outward fast, cutting power, forcing evacuations and placing a neighborhood under emergency control until crews finish the job.