MISSOULA — Firefighters were called out Tuesday morning for hit and blowing gas line calls that occurred during the same time period.
The first call taken by the Missoula 911 Center came in at approximately 10:20 am for someone that had hit a gas line while digging a fence line.
Missoula Rural Fire District Assistant Fire Chief Brent Christopherson says it was conveyed by the dispatcher to responders that the caller could see people running in the field frantically.
When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found a 2" gas line had been punctured.
Christopherson says firefighters began evacuating the immediate area and increased the perimeter size of the evacuation with the assistance from the Missoula Police Department.
The second gas line rupture call came in for 2870 Saint Michael Drive at the Aletheia Counseling and Mental Health Building at approximately 10:30 am.
According to Christopherson, an excavator had hit a 1” gas line and it was leaking gas, and responding firefighters could spell the gas upon arrival. The Missoula City Fire Department also responded to the scene.
Firefighters shut off the gas to the building and monitored the area with meters and pulled a handline to help protect the area.
NorthWestern Energy responded from the Florence area and Missoula Emergency Services stood-by on scene while the gas line leak was mitigated.
No injuries were reported from either incident.
