Several homes in Byron and three Stewartville businesses were evacuated for a few hours Thursday after gas lines near them were accidentally cut.
The Olmsted County Sheriff's Department said a Byron city crew was digging to find a clogged sewer line when a gas line was cut. The accident was reported at 12:54 p.m. in the 200 block of Eighth Street Northeast.
A Minnesota Energy crew was called and fixed the break.
The Rochester Fire Department said a gas line below the parking lot of the Center Town Plaza in Stewartville was broken when a boring drill cut into it. The three businesses there, including Olmsted Medical Center, had to be evacuated for a few hours. Nearby businesses and a nursing home were monitored to make sure gas didn't get into them.
The break was reported at 11:53 a.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
The break was fixed by Minnesota Energy.
