UPDATE: First Street has reopened
WILLMAR -- First Street in Willmar reopened to traffic around 1:45 p.m. today after being closed since around noon due to a natural gas leak at a construction site along the 1000 block.
A construction crew working at the site struck an active gas line around 11:45 a.m., with emergency crews responding soon after to detour traffic away from the scene and address the leak.
Fire Chief Marv Calvin said his department, the Willmar Police, Minnesota State Patrol, Kandiyohi County sheriff's office and rescue squad, along with city public works employees and the local CenterPoint Energy crew, responded and worked together to address the leak.
"We had our 'A-game' on today," Calvin said. He also commended the public for their understanding of the street closure.
No one was injured and several nearby businesses did close due to the situation, he added.
