Gas leak causes evacuation in Trenton Township

A Trenton Township worker struck a gas line Monday morning, causing the evacuation of a few residents, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department reported.

Larry Spindler had been using a tractor with an auger to replace a stop sign post at 803rd Street and 147th Ave. As he was digging, the auger struck a natural gas line, causing “visible vapors,” the sheriff’s department said.

WE Energies were called from Durand, Wis., to contain the leak. A one-block radius was evacuated as a precautionary measure, and a portion of 150th Avenue was closed for a short time. The sheriff’s department said only a small number of residents were affected.

About an hour after the incident, the leak was contained and residents were able to return to their homes. The Ellsworth Fire Department and Ellsworth Ambulance Service assisted at the scene.

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