Local
Methane concerns leave Burkitt Ridge families out of Antioch homes
Several families in Antioch’s Burkitt Ridge neighborhood have left their homes after firefighters found elevated gas levels following blasting at a nearby construction site. Investigators are still determining the cause, and residents say they have no clear timeline for returning or receiving financial help with temporary housing.
ANTIOCH, Tenn. — Families with young children in Burkitt Ridge have been displaced for days after firefighters detected elevated gas levels in homes near a construction site where blasting had recently taken place.
Firefighters evacuated a nearby apartment building early Saturday, Oct. 24, after detecting dangerous gas levels. A geologist consulted by fire crews believes construction may have disturbed a pocket of methane, but investigators have not determined the cause.
Mary Akers said she asked firefighters to test her home after learning of the nearby evacuation. They found elevated gas levels, she said, and advised her to leave. Akers has two young children.
“If we hadn’t communicated with them, we wouldn’t have known,” she said, adding that firefighters had told her the home was unsafe.
Chris Parker, who also has two young children and lives closer to the construction site, said firefighters came to his home early Saturday, tested it and told the family to get out after finding high levels.
Akers and Parker said they were frustrated by inconsistent communication from the neighborhood homeowners association and builder about when residents could safely return. They later received additional emails from both, but as of Monday, Oct. 26, they still did not have a clear return date.
The displacement is also creating financial strain. Parker said his family can only afford hotels or short-term rentals for so long and is anxious about when financial relief might become available. Akers described the return timeline as indefinite.
The gas levels have raised particular concern for households with children and pets. The available information did not specify measured concentrations or identify a confirmed source of the gas.