[meyer]

The gas company may not have a leak, but that doesn’t rule out methane coming up out of the ground from a “natural” source.

It also doesn't rule out a leak in the customer's equipment or piping. The gas company only owns, at best, up to the gas meter, and more likely, to the "tee" connection where the branch line goes to the house.

How long were these people out of town?

[nascarnation]

Don’t know for sure but sounded like it was a jaunt to a nearby casino so maybe a couple nights.