MASON CITY, Iowa – Emergency crews responded to a gas leak Monday afternoon.
It happened along 16th Street Northeast between Federal and Pennsylvania Avenue. Officials on the scene say Aliant Energy workers drilling for an electric pole hit a gas feeder line in front of an apartment around 2:30.
No injuries were reported, and residents were not evacuated, as this was considered a non-threatening emergency, says Mason City Fire Department Lieutenant Steven Bull. However, barricades were put up on nearby streets for a few hours and emergency crews were placed on standby as a precaution.
Bull stresses residents to take the proper steps in order to prevent a situation like this.
"Call OneCall, and they'll locate all of your phone lines, gas lines and electrical lines that are underground within 72 hours," Bull says.
If you smell gas, usually in the form of rotten eggs, Bull makes it clear to immediately call 911.
"That will get us en route to come and stand by, and then we generally contact Aliant. At that point, they'll come out and stop the leak," Bull says.
Recently, Aliant has been installing new electrical poles in the neighborhood.
