Gas leak prompts evacuation of Columbia Public Schools' administration building

COLUMBIA — Employees at the Columbia Public Schools District’s administration building evacuated Thursday morning after contractors hit a gas line.

The Columbia Fire Department responded to the gas leak about 11:15 a.m., Columbia Fire Battalion Chief Steve Sapp said.

Employees knew workers had hit the gas line during construction and evacuated immediately from the building at 1818 W. Worley St.

There are about 50 people who work the in the building.

Sapp said it is not common for construction crews to hit gas lines, but it does happen.

They hit a service line and the incident “was really relatively minor,” Sapp said.

Employees working in the building evacuated before fire trucks arrived and were able to return to work at 11:39 a.m., said the district’s spokesperson, Michelle Baumstark.

— Missourian reporter Stacey Talarovich contributed to this report