SLC gas leak causes business evacuations downtown

SALT LAKE CITY — A gas line is leaking into structures in Salt Lake City in the area around 100 South to 200 South.

Battalion Chief Sam Walker with Salt Lake City Fire said that 100 South to 200 South will be closed for at least the next hour because construction workers hit a gas line, causing it to leak into nearby structures.

Multiple businesses have been evacuated and the fire department is working on ventilating structures.

Jacobsen Construction spokesperson Amy Christensen released the following statement:

“There was a utility incident near one of our jobsites along State Street in Salt Lake City early this afternoon. Our response teams — which are trained and prepared for circumstances like this — were activated and they’ve been working with first responders to address the situation quickly.

 During the installation of an electrical duct bank in the street near our project, a gas line was nicked. We can report that there are no injuries and that as a precautionary measure, the block and nearby jobsite have been evacuated while Dominion Energy is onsite repairing the line. The gas was shut off at 1:03 p.m. and the area is being ventilated so that the street and jobsite area can be re-opened, at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Because downtown construction involves complex and sometimes delicate work, Jacobsen has been proactive in planning and providing ongoing training to help our workers and those near our projects to stay safe, as well as in preparing to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an incident like this.”