Gas leak forces early morning evacuations

An early morning natural gas leak near Ninth and Cherry streets prompted Columbia firefighters to evacuate an apartment building and a restaurant, as well as block traffic from the area.

About 4:45 a.m. Monday, a two-inch natural gas line serving the Niedermeyer Apartments, 920 Cherry St., was damaged when a McLane Food Services delivery vehicle struck the line, according to a Columbia Fire Department news release.

High humidity and lack of wind prevented the natural gas from rapidly spreading, but gas level readings required an evacuation for precautionary measures. About 25 occupants of the apartments and an employee of Panera Bread, 102 S. Ninth St., were asked to leave. They were provided shelter in the fire department’s “Bus 7,” a 32-passenger bus used to house residents and firefighters in such emergencies.

The Panera Bread baker was allowed to return to the business after about 30 minutes after firefighters cleared the building. The apartment occupants returned to their building about 6 a.m., after workers from AmerenUE shut off the gas to the apartment and began repairs to the line.

The line was repaired and turned back on by 1 p.m., Ameren spokeswoman Erica Abbett said.

In addition to the evacuations, a six-square block area, including two blocks of Broadway, was closed to traffic. There were no injuries to residents or firefighters in the incident.