SUFFOLK, Va. — Pruden Boulevard is reopen after a gas line leak caused the roadway to close while people nearby were evacuated. Virginia Natural Gas has secured the leak.
Suffolk Fire & Rescue units were on the scene of a natural gas leak in the 2300 block of Pruden Boulevard after a contractor struck a gas line on Wednesday afternoon, according to Suffolk fire officials.
The Suffolk Fire Department says Emergency Communications was contacted at 3:41 p.m. and the first unit arrived on scene at 3:46 p.m. to find a large gas line with a significant leak.
Suffolk fire says units immediately evacuated the area and shut down all traffic on Pruden Boulevard between Jordan Avenue and Godwin Boulevard.
There was a detour in place for Pruden Boulevard while Columbia Gas and Virginia Natural Gas secured the leak.
Suffolk fire says the gas companies, along with the Incident Commander, developed a plan to secure the leak and repair the line.
Suffolk Fire & Rescue evacuated 11 people and assessed two of them for medical complaints. Suffolk fire says the Regal Inn was also evacuated.
All those evacuated were offered shelter in the Suffolk Fire Department's Rehab Bus, which had food, water and a bathroom, according to Suffolk fire officials.
The road closure was expected to last until 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Stay with News 3 for updates.
