A gas leak forced evacuations in Sioux Rapids yesterday morning, after a contractor struck a gas main while repairing a city water line.
The leak happened just before 11 a.m. in the 400 block of Elm Street, on the south side of Sioux Rapids. Fire crews quickly responded, securing the area and evacuating nearby homes. About a dozen Sioux Rapids firefighters were joined by Buena Vista Regional Medical Center ambulance crews, the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, and Alliant Energy.
Sioux Rapids Fire Chief Aaron Nelson says the response was immediate and coordinated.
Crews controlled traffic and stood by while utility workers repaired the line. Roughly half a dozen homes were evacuated as a precaution, says Nelson.
No injuries were reported, and residents were allowed back into their homes once the line was secured. Nelson says cooperation from the community made the process smoother.
Firefighters remained on scene for about two and a half hours before clearing the area.
Photo courtesy Sioux Rapids Fire Department
