At approximately 9:20 a.m. on January 9, the Margate City Fire Department responded to the unit block of South Granville Avenue for a reported high-pressure gas leak. Firefighters arrived, assessed the situation, and evacuated a one-block radius for safety reasons. Evacuations included businesses along Ventnor Avenue—Casel’s Marketplace, Dino’s, Jagielky’s, and Talk of the Towne—as well as homes on South Granville Avenue, even-numbered residences on South Gladstone Avenue, and odd-numbered residences on South Haverford Avenue.

Crews stretched a 2½-inch hoseline and secured a water supply to Engine 22. The leak was shut down by a gas company crew about 45-50 minutes after the problem began. Firefighters remained on the scene for a subsequent leak near Granville and Ventnor avenues, checking impacted buildings with a gas company representative to ensure no dangers remained. Ross and Tighe schools were contacted and pupils were kept indoors due to citywide gas smells. Eleven firemen responded to the scene, with four off-duty personnel called in to cover further calls. The Margate City Police Department, Margate City Public Works Department, and South Jersey Gas Company all provided assistance. The incident occurred during city roadwork on Granville Avenue, and all fire units cleared at 11:40 a.m.