Natural gas leak prompts evacuations in La Grange Park

A gas leak Thursday forced several people out of their homes in west suburban La Grange Park.

Crews responded about 10:46 a.m. to Ashland Avenue and Oak Avenue for reports of a natural gas leak, according to the La Grange Park Fire Department.

They learned a contractor had severed a gas line while cutting the street in preparation for paving work, fire said. The gas line served a nearby four-story condominium building.

Residents from the condominium building and two other residential buildings were evacuated because of elevated gas readings, fire said. Many of the residents took shelter in the La Grange Park Library.

A hazardous materials response team called to monitor gas levels in the area detected gas in the multi-story building, but it didn’t appear to reach dangerous levels, fire said. A firefighter helped a resident get their cat from inside the building during the incident.

Nicor Gas responded to the scene in less than an hour, but had to call for additional crews to dig up piping in order to stop the leak, fire said.

The flow of gas was stopped at 2:07 p.m., and residents returned home shortly after, fire said. No injuries were reported.