(Spirit Lake)– A business in downtown Spirit Lake was evacuated early this (Friday) afternoon as the result of a natural gas leak.
Fire Chief Wally Jorgenson says employees of Bank Midwest Insurance Services reported a strong smell of gas and a loud hissing sound shortly after 12:30 p.m.
Jorgenson says a three-quarter-inch natural gas service line was apparently severed by a vehicle that was passing through an alley behind the business at the corner of Lake Street and Gary Avenue.
Officials with Aquila arrived a short time later and shut the gas off without incident. The broken line was then repaired.
Other than the insurance building being evacuated for a short time, Jorgenson says no other businesses or residences in the area had to be evacuated. He says a strong wind caused the gas to quickly dissipate, lessening any threat. Traffic was cordoned off around the scene as a precaution.
Spirit Lake firefighters were on the scene about 40 minutes.
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