Backhoe hits natural gas service line in west Beatrice

BEATRICE – Firefighters were sent to a gas line break in west Beatrice Friday morning. 

Beatrice Firefighters were sent to the five-hundred block of West Mary, where a small backhoe used to excavate an area next to a sidewalk, struck a natural gas service line, causing a leak.  There was no fire or explosion.

Fire officials were dispatched at 8:38 a.m., and a Black Hills Energy crew arrived on scene at about 9:00 a.m., shutting off the leak a few minutes later and preparing to make repairs.

Utility work was going on along the north side of West Mary Street when the accident happened.   One nearby home was evacuated, but no other residents had to be evacuated in the area.  

Beatrice Firefighters left the scene in a little more than a half-hour after the line break.