Vibrations traced to Texas landfill

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AUSTIN, Texas, May 7 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Texas said reports of sounds and vibrations in a neighborhood turned out to be methane gas escaping from a landfill.

The Austin Fire Department said firefighters responding to 911 calls that began around midnight Sunday said they traced the sounds and vibrations to the Sunset Farms Landfill, KVUE-TV, Austin, reported Monday.

"As trash breaks down, it releases methane gas," fire Lt. Josh Portie said. "That methane gas gets captured. They actually use it in a process to create electricity. Whatever is left that passes through the system, they will burn off through a flare system."

Firefighters said the escaping gas did not pose a threat to the public and they made some adjustments to the facility's damper system around 4 p.m. to address the issue.