Part of US Highway 50 was closed down for about 20 minutes after a natural gas leak near a west Emporia gas station.
Emporia Fire and Kansas Gas were called to the 4200 block of Highway 50 near Flying J shortly before 10 am. Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Eron Steinlage tells KVOE News a contract crew hit a one-inch line in a ditch on the south side of the highway, sending a strong smell of gas to the west. After Emporia Police and Lyon County deputies arrived to help with traffic control, authorities closed down the highway just north of the gas station.
Customers and employees of Flying J and Huddle House were also told to shelter in the building until the situation was resolved.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported. Work continues now near the gas line in question.
Steinlage thanked Kansas Gas, police officers and deputies for their rapid response. He says firefighters train annually with Kansas Gas for potential high-danger situations.
