St. Charles office evacuated when gas leak catches fire

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Updated: January 26, 2012 6:24PM

ST. CHARLES - An office building was evacuated but no injuries were reported Thursday when a natural gas leak caused a fire in St. Charles.

Just after 8 a.m., the St. Charles Fire Department responded to a natural gas leak and fire at the intersection of Woodward Drive and Peck Road. Fire was coming from a 6-by-16-foot excavation in the sidewalk near the intersection, a release from the department said.

Firefighters sealed off the area, notified NICOR, and, as a precaution, evacuated the the Parent Petroleum offices at 3340 W. Main St. because electrical power to the building had to be disconnected, the release said.

NICOR shut down the leaking gas main, which was found to be an impaired 1-inch line. Fire department personnel and the utility are trying to determine the exact cause of the leak.

There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters, the release said.