A contractor who was working at an empty lot in Wolseley hit a gas line on Wednesday.
Manitoba Hydro spokesman Riley McDonald said the utility was notified that a contractor had hit an underground gas line on the 100 block of Garfield Street at about 3 p.m.
A nearby resident said fire crews had taped off a number of homes near the scene, around the intersection of Palmerston Avenue. The resident said the leak occurred at an empty lot at the intersection where a home is being built.
McDonald said the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is at the scene, as two Manitoba Hydro crews work to expose the gas line and stop the leak. The gas is venting safely, he said.
Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service spokeswoman Erin Madden said crews were called to the intersection at 3:02 p.m.
“Responders are evacuating some residences in the area as a precaution while Manitoba Hydro works to stop the leak,” Madden said.
Traffic is backed up, as the fire department has closed Wolseley Avenue from Aubrey to Dominion streets and Garfield Street from Wolseley to Westminster avenues.
