JAIL GAS LEAK A MYSTERY

The origin of a natural gas odor that forced a relocation of inmates in the Potter County Jail Thursday morning remains a mystery.

"We don't know what caused it because the gas company doesn't really know," explained Deputy Warden Robert Patinka, adding that PPL employees used meters throughout the facility and found no cause.

The Coudersport Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the jail just before 6 a.m. for a reported natural gas odor in the second floor.

A slow response from Coudersport and the complexity of the situation brought firefighters from Roulette to the scene as well.

Guards at the jail had evacuated the second floor first and then moved all 35 inmates into the interior recreation yard, Patinka said.

"We didn't have to evacuate (the complex)," Patinka explained. "The gas company advised that it wasn't to that point."

Had the situation gotten to that point, the inmates would have been taken to the courthouse, he said. Borough police and several state police officers were on scene to assist the six guards if an evacuation was needed.