Just before 6 pm Monday, Clinton fire was called to a gas line struck by a utility crew near Jackson and Main Streets.  

Authorities indicate first arriving responders located the area of the leak and made initial checks of the homes, businesses, and sewers in the surrounding areas and found no elevated levels at that time.  

During the next reassessment, crews started getting elevated gas readings in the sewer and buildings.  At that time a first alarm for manpower was paged bringing help from the Wapella, Kenney, and Maroa Fire Departments.  

There was then an evacuation of 12 blocks in the direction the gas was moving through the sewer and crews coordinated with Ameren on ventilating the First Christian Church to keep the levels low and away from an explosive concentration of gas.  

Ameren stopped the leak and we began ventilating the sewer to get levels back down to a safe level.   

Residents were able to re-enter their homes around 9 p.m. Monday. 

Authorities thank all the residents for working with crews during the event and evacuating when asked to do so.  

They also thank the mutual aid fire departments for helping in the evacuation and securing of the area, and also Dewitt County EMA for their assistance.

Just after 6 a.m. on Tuesday, the fire department shared on Facebook a less fortunate outcome that took place in Woodstock, Illinois, where a home was leveled by an explosion from gas leaking into the sewer.

There have been now two major gas leaks in the community this year and authorities say they are fortunate what happened in Woodstock has not happened in Clinton.