Gas service returned to normal in area of leak

Natural gas service has returned to normal after a construction worker ruptured a gas line in the 600 block of Charles Street this morning.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded about 11:45 a.m. at the intersection of Charles Street and Hawthorne Road, west of Arena Park.

A worker hit a residential gas line with a backhoe causing a leak, according to Capt. Dean Lynn. No one was in danger and there was no chance of an explosion, Lynn said. Fire crews left the scene by 12:30 p.m., after the line was shut off and the gas dissipated.

An AmerenUE crew was two blocks away at the time and quickly repaired the line, according to spokeswoman Susan Gallagher. One customer was temporarily without natural gas service after the incident, though Gallagher did not know for how long. The line was operating normally as of 2:30 p.m.