Smoke rises from Puff N' Stuff smoke shop, located at 1652 N. High St. A gas leak was reported at the smoke shop during the afternoon of Aug. 23. Credit: Ritika Shah / Lantern TV news director

Smoke rises from Puff N’ Stuff smoke shop, located at 1652 N. High St. A gas leak was reported at the smoke shop during the afternoon of Aug. 23.
Credit: Ritika Shah / Lantern TV news director

Students moving into Ohio State Saturday afternoon were greeted by billowing smoke and strong fumes coming from Puff N’ Stuff smoke shop, located at 1652 N. High St.

Columbus police officers directing traffic during move-in activities smelled the fumes and reported it to Lt. Karl Barth of Columbus Police Division’s Traffic Bureau, Barth said. At around 3 p.m., OSU’s police department tweeted from its account, @OSUPOLICE, that “Columbus Police and Fire are handling (a) gas leak.”

Barth said he is unsure of  what caused the gas leak, but no one was hurt. Pedestrians and vehicles were asked to stay away from the area “to avoid the possibility of an explosion,” Barth said.

Barth added that certain residences in the area were evacuated.

Despite High Street being closed off between 12th Avenue and Chittenden Avenue, Barth said there were minimal to no interruptions in Saturday’s move-in pattern for OSU students. An OSU police dispatcher also said that there have been no issues or complaints about the move-in process thus far.

Columbia Gas completed repairs at the smoke shop around 4 p.m., and OSU police tweeted that High Street would reopen once repair equipment is cleared but stressed caution in the area.

A Columbia Gas representative was not immediately available for comment Saturday afternoon.