An all clear has been given to return to downtown Youngstown. 

The Youngstown Fire Department found no major leak and is still checking for a cause of the smell. 

Reports of natural gas smelling in buildings have been reported from downtown Youngstown, to West Marshall Street to the west, near Mercy Health hospital downtown to the north; E. Boardman Street to the east and the Mahoning County courthouse to the south on Friday afternoon.

A two-block radius from the George Voinovich Government Center is being issued a mandatory evacuation Friday afternoon.

Enbridge told 21 News that it's "crews are continuing to scope the inside and outside of buildings in the area for the presence of natural gas . We have yet to determine the source of the odor."

As an abundance of caution, government buildings in downtown Youngstown have been evacuated and are closed due to multiple reports of a natural gas odor. 

The Simply Slavic event schedule to kick off tonight at the Amphitheatre has been given an all clear to proceed with the event, according to JAC Management.

 

Mahoning County Emergency Management director Robin Lees told 21 News that natural gas smells in confined spaces are a concern and reminds people to evacuate the area immediately if they smell gas. Lees said gas odors in open spaces will go into the atmosphere and are not as big of a concern or risk.

Youngstown City Hall and many downtown businesses, including Mocha House Downtown, have been evacuated. The Youngstown Police Department also evacuated its building just before 1 p.m. 

Youngstown Fire Department told 21 News Mercy Health St. Elizabeth has been given an clear Friday just before 2 p.m.

Around 3 p.m., several downtown locations were being given all clear to people to reenter buildings.

Reports of natural gas being detected in West Federal Street were heard on the scanner.

The fire department dispatch is now telling anyone smelling gas in the building to evacuate the building.

A spokesperson for Enbridge Gas told 21 News that they were looking into the reports but had no immediate information. 

Radio scanner traffic indicates several people are calling from all over downtown Youngstown, from Federal Street to Mercy Health to Youngstown State University, reporting a gas odor. 

Here is a list of some buildings that were evacuated in the downtown area:

  • All county buildings
  • Anything within a two-block radius of the Voinovich Center of W. Federal St. 
  • Mahoning County Court House and Admistration Building
  • YPD
  • Youngstown City Hall
  • Youngstown Rayen Early College High School and Choffin Career and Technical Center
  • Avalon Pizza
  • Oh Wow!
  • The main branch of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County 
  • YSU

YSU issued a Penguin alert telling all students should also leave campus. For those living on campus, they should also vacate their living quarters.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

21 News has crews on the scene and is working to get more information.