Part of Woodbury neighborhood evacuated after falling tree in storm causes gas leak

Power outages and weather alerts were reported throughout the metro area due to the storms that rolled in.

October 4, 2018 at 4:37AM

Severe thunderstorms Wednesday evening toppled a tree onto a residential gas line in Woodbury, prompting police to evacuate 15 homes.

Authorities responded to a reported gas leak on the 7400 block of Chesham Lane just before 6 p.m. Amid strong winds and rain, a tree limb severed the underground gas line. No one was injured.

Authorities partly evacuated the neighborhood as a precaution, said Woodbury police Sgt. Matt Foucault. Residents waited in their cars or at nearby homes.

Xcel Energy was on the scene trying to cap the leak, he said. It wasn't known when people could return to their homes.

Power outages were reported throughout the metro area due to the passing storm.

about the writer

about the writer

Liz Sawyer

Reporter

Liz Sawyer  covers Minneapolis crime and policing at the Star Tribune. Since joining the newspaper in 2014, she has reported extensively on Minnesota law enforcement, state prisons and the youth justice system. 

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