A construction crew punctured a natural gas main, prompting evacuations and traffic closures in downtown Crystal Lake Wednesday morning, fire officials said.
The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department and Crystal Lake Police Department responded around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to the area of Main Street and East Crystal Lake Avenue.
Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Mark Menzel said calls were received reporting a gas smell in the area.
Fire crews investigated and found an underground natural gas leak.
Nicor Gas was called to the scene and discovered a leak in a two-inch steel natural gas main, Menzel said.
It was learned that the leak was caused by ongoing directional boring in the area by a construction crew.
Menzel said the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department worked with Nicor to begin metering for natural gas in homes, businesses and sewers.
The buildings in the area were evacuated and police shut down Crystal Lake Avenue between Walkup Avenue and Main Street.
Motorists driving past reported smelling a very heavy odor of natural gas.
Additional fire crews were called to the scene and ComEd was requested to remotely shut off power to the buildings, Menzel said.
The Crystal Lake Public Works Department also assisted at the scene.
Menzel said Nicor was eventually able to stop the leak and firefighters worked with them to ventilate nearby buildings.
Nicor Gas crews remained on the scene to repair the gas main. Crystal Lake Avenue has since been reopened to traffic, Menzel said.
