IRON MOUNTAIN - Several downtown Iron Mountain businesses were evacuated Wednesday afternoon due to a natural gas leak.

Iron Mountain City Manager Jordan Stanchina said that a construction crew was excavating the parking lot in front of the Dickinson County Library when workers hit an underground natural gas line near Bond Decorating.

Dan Johnson, chief of the Iron Mountain Fire Department, added that the gas line was two inches wide.

The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m.

All occupants of businesses and residences on the south side of the 200 block of East Hughitt Street were evacuated, said Johnson.

Firefighters also entered all the buildings in the area to open windows and test for gas.

"There was the potential that some of the gas leaked into the buildings," Johnson explained. "You don't want to trap gas inside, because that's when there's potential for an explosion."

A few businesses were locked at the time and had to be broken into, he added.

Officials from the Iron Mountain Police Department and the Department of Public Works also blocked off sections of East A Street, Iron Mountain Street, and East Hughitt Street.

Johnson said that DTE Energy workers were able to stop the leak by clamping both

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sides of the pipe. A full repair to the pipe will be completed today or Friday, he added.

People were allowed back into buildings at approximately 4:30 p.m. Cars parked in the parking lot and along East Hughitt Street were also permitted to leave the area at that time.

No injuries were reported, said Johnson.

He added there is currently no disruption to gas service in the area.