Four men were taken to different hospitals this evening after a gas line ruptured during repairs, a police officer says.
Authorities have blocked off a mile-square section in an industrial area in Adams County while Xcel Energy employees make repairs, said Lt. Dennis Moon of the Commerce City Police Department.
The conditions of the men and their identities were not immediately known.
The rupture happened about 6 p.m. near 57th Avenue and Highway 85, Moon said. There was no explosion and no fire, he said. Residential homes were not affected, he said.
The current area of concern is approximately from 29th Avenue on the south to 60th Avenue on the north, and from York Street on the west and Ulster Street on the east, according to Xcel Energy.
Police closed off Vasquez Boulevard at 50th Avenue, Colorado Boulevard at 52nd Avenue, Highway 270 between Interstate-76 and Quebec Street and 56th Avenue between Dahlia Street and Brighton Boulevard, he said.
As the leak is repaired, it could result in localized natural gas outages, according to a news release by Xcel Energy.
There also may be a periodic odor of natural gas in parts of metropolitan Denver area for the next several hours, the release says. Xcel Energy has been at the scene of the leak and is working to shut off the natural gas.
Xcel Energy estimates that repairs may take several hours.
As necessary, the company will undertake a relighting effort for homes and businesses that may lose service. Streets will remain closed in the immediate area until the leak is over.
Xcel Energy is encouraging customers to leave their homes and call (800) 895-2999 if they smell natural gas in their homes or businesses.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
