Gas leaks prompt temporary evacuations on city’s south side

By Brandi Makuski

STEVENS POINT — Two gas leak calls within about 90 minutes Tuesday afternoon brought multiple Stevens Point fire units and Wisconsin Public Service crews to the 3400 block of Church Street.

The first call came in at 3:57 p.m. on July 7 after a construction crew struck a natural gas main in the work zone between Rookies Sports Pub and Ranchito’s, Stevens Point Fire Battalion Chief Mark Meyers said.

The damaged line prompted firefighters to evacuate four nearby buildings while crews monitored the area for hazardous gas levels. Firefighters also expanded their safety checks farther west, following the wind, to ensure gas had not spread into additional buildings, Meyers said.

While checking neighboring businesses during that response, firefighters discovered a small gas leak inside Rookies. Meyers said the second incident, reported at 5:18 p.m., turned out to be unrelated to the damaged gas main.

“We were able to determine that it was two unrelated issues,” Meyers said. “They ended up having just a small gas leak in there.”

No injuries were reported, and no one became ill during either incident.

Meyers said firefighters’ first priority at any gas leak is securing the scene and protecting the public. Crews monitor outdoor air conditions, check nearby buildings for gas accumulation and evacuate occupants if hazardous levels are detected or expected.

“We don’t generally evacuate unless we can identify that it’s a true potential hazard for people or if we start getting gas levels inside of the structure,” Meyers said.

Firefighters also positioned hose lines as a precaution in case the leaking gas ignited, although water is typically not used unless there is an active fire.

Wisconsin Public Service responded quickly to both calls and was able to clamp the damaged gas line before beginning repairs, Meyers said. Once the leak was contained and the immediate hazard eliminated, firefighters cleared the scene while utility crews continued repair work.

Light west winds helped disperse the gas, Meyers said, reducing the potential for a larger hazard.

The incidents occurred in an area that has seen weeks of heavy road and utility work as crews reconstruct the Business 51 corridor through Stevens Point.