A construction crew struck a 2-inch natural gas main near Minnesota Street and Tifton Drive in Franklin Thursday afternoon, setting off a scramble that briefly evacuated part of the area and prompted a nearby elementary school to shelter in place. The strike happened around 2 p.m., sending crews rushing to secure the leak while students inside Pleasant View Elementary School were told to shelter in place.
The Franklin Fire Department confirmed that the construction crew hit the gas main during work near the intersection, according to WISN. An area of Franklin was evacuated as a result of the leak, though the exact boundaries of that evacuation zone have not been detailed publicly.
Shelter-in-Place Order Lifted Within Minutes
At Pleasant View Elementary, staff and students were ordered to shelter in place as a precaution while crews worked to contain the leak nearby. That order didn't last long — it was lifted within 15 minutes, and everyone was confirmed safe.
We Energies crews were on scene working to secure the leak.
A Familiar Scenario for Utility Crews
Gas main strikes by construction crews are not unique to Franklin. Earlier this year, a gas line break in Iron River forced a mandatory evacuation after a construction crew struck a 2-inch main along Highway 2, according to Fox21 Online. In Hartford, homes and buildings along Branch Street were evacuated after a separate gas leak, as reported by Washington County Insider.
Everyone at the school was confirmed safe after Thursday's incident in Franklin. It's not yet known whether any investigation or enforcement action will follow the strike.
