Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Gas leak shuts down street in Brandon

A stretch of Richmond Avenue between 18th Street and 13th Street remains closed this afternoon after police ordered the evacuation of nearby homes and businesses due to a gas leak.

The stench of rotten eggs flooded the area as natural gas poured out of the leak, which was apparently caused by work crews at the site of the new Murray Chev-Olds car dealership building, in the south end of Brandon.

Fire, emergency services and police personnel quickly set up barricades after the leak. Manitoba Hydro personnel are on-scene working to fix the leak.

One employee of Ready Oxygen, near the leak, said it was a quiet morning until the gas leak and police forced employees to leave the building.

"We couldn't even take our cars," said Aaron Humenny as he and fellow coworkers cooled their heels at a picnic table outside of the Jiffy convenience store. "They said the ignition could set it off."

Richmond Avenue has been completely shut down between 13th Street and 18th Street, with a partial shutdown all the way to 10th Street and more streets likely to be closed in the area. At least part of the Keystone Centre lot is closed.

Several businesses and residences have been evacuated as emergency crews try and work on the gas leak.

Motorists should avoid the area until further notice.

- The Brandon Sun

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