(Spencer)– A natural gas leak this (Wednesday) morning resulted in a portion of downtown Spencer being evacuated.
Fire Chief Doug Duncan says firefighters were called shortly before 9:00 a.m. to 414 First Avenue East where a gas riser on a building had been struck by some snow removal equipment, causing natural gas to be released into the air.
First Avenue Hair Care, The Eagles, Masonic Temple, Temple Apartments, Phelps Dental Office, Nelson Hearing, Twetton’s Interior Design, an apartment and a residence to the east of the Temple Apartment Building were all evacuated as a precaution. Residents were temporarily housed in the old middle school.
Power was also shut-off to the area and traffic was routed around the scene.
Officials with Aquila arrived and capped off the leak without incident shortly before 10:00 a.m. Residents were then allowed to return.
An alley between First Avenue East and Second Avenue East remained closed for awhile later as crews continued to make repairs.
Duncan says he and the Spencer Fire Department and other officials are grateful for everyone’s cooperation during the incident.
