Major gas leak in Fond du Lac, WI has caused the evacuation of a portion of the city.

Major gas leak evacuates portion of the city

Sharon Roznik, Action Reporter Media 3:20 p.m. CDT July 9, 2015

(Photo: Doug Raflik/Action Reporter Media)

 Fond du La, WI

A major gas leak in the city of Fond du Lac forced evacuation of more than 40 residences for about two hours on Thursday.

Members of the Fond du Lac Fire Department went door-to-door to evacuate homes near the center of the city where the gas leak was reported.

Firefighters were called out to the scene shortly after noon on Thursday, July 9, to a home located near the intersection of East Ninth and Lloyd Streets, according to the fire department's Twitter account.

Alliant Energy pulls electric meters to residents nearby the gas leak Thursday afternoon in Fond du Lac. (Photo: Fond du Lac Fire Department)

The gas leak occurred when a sub-contractor using a backhoe hit a six inch gas main, creating a major puncture, according to the fire department.

The smell of gas was reported as far away as the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds, and a bystander reported hearing the hissing of the gas from a block away.

A crew from Alliant Energy located two spots in the vicinity where they could squeeze off the pipe and turn off valves to stop the leak.

A firefighter that had fallen was transported from the scene by ambulance as a precautionary measure, said Troy Haase, division chief of fire prevention.