Gas leak forces evacuation

10/18/2012

GOODLAND -- A ruptured gas line prompted authorities Wednesday to evacuate residents out of concern of an explosion.

The evacuation area covered several city blocks, according to a statement from the Sherman County emergency management office.

The leak, apparently caused when a boring machine hit a gas line, was repaired at approximately 8 p.m. Mountain time. The evacuation lasted about five hours.

The western Kansas chapter of the American Red Cross dispatched a four-member response team with enough food for 75 people to Goodland.

During the course of the evacuation, a shelter was established at First United Methodist Church.

Several streets in the Goodland area remain closed today due to ongoing repair work.