MASON CITY – At just after noon Thursday, a gas leak was reported on South Illinois Avenue. Road work was being completed on that street by Larry Elwood Construction when a gas line was cut; how it was cut or who was responsible was not immediately clear.
Mason City police evacuated Demro Dentistry and knocked on doors of nearby homes to clear them away from the potentially dangerous scene.
Gas could be smelled 5o yards from the road work area. What appeared to be an Alliant Energy truck and crew arrived on the scene within minutes, as well as more police, fire and ambulance responders in case of an explosion. Police barricaded South Illnois from the North and South and bystanders were asked to move away.
The gas line was found in a grass boulevard area directly in front of the former Jiffy Lube next door to the dental office, and it was reported that at 12:44 PM that gas line was found and safely shut down.
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