No evacuations necessary following gas leak in Arnold

KSDK -- Firefighters and police in Arnold went on alert Tuesday morning following a natural gas leak.

According to Ron Harder, a spokesman for the Rock Community Fire Protection District, the leak happened behind the First Baptist Church of Arnold, in the area of Church and Old Missouri State roads. A local construction company accidentally struck a four-inch gas line, sending the odor of natural gas throughout a several block area.

Police officers were able to cordon off the area while firefighters monitored gas levels within the leak's radius with special explosive meters, Harder said.

Laclede Gas dispatched an emergency team and successfully shut down the underground gas mains. Firefighters stayed on scene until repairs were completed and the area was cleared of the odor.

Harder said no injuries were reported and evacuations were not needed.