Gas leak reported

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to a report of a natural gas leak in the 1900 block of Randol Avenue at 4:51 p.m. Monday. Ten homes on the street were evacuated for about two hours while the leak was contained.

"A track hoe severed a three-inch plastic gas line while doing sanitary sewer work in the center of the street," said battalion chief Steve Niswonger who responded to the scene.

At 6:48 p.m., AmerenUE clamped the line and stemmed the leak. Niswonger said such leaks are dangerous mainly for the risk of ignition. "If it gets inside a structure and catches the pilot light of a hot water heater or even someone on the street smoking a cigarette could be in danger of igniting the gas," he said.