During a major snowstorm Monday night, a section of Green Bay Road was closed in Highland Park due to a major gas main break which resulted in a gas leak and fire (CBS Chicago).
Police, firefighters, and paramedics from Highland Park responded about 5:56 p.m. Monday, February 15, 2021 to a report of a gas main fire in the block of 500 to 600 Green Bay Road in Highland Park. Firefighters received a report that a gas main exploded in the street.
BREAKING: Crews in #HighlandPark are on the scene of a Gas Main Break with a Bobcat and a Generator on fire between Roger Williams and Washington. Heavy flames are visible. Avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/qxkzxNxGjC
— NorthShore Updates (@UpdatesNorth) February 16, 2021
Highland Park Battalion Chief 33 on arrival reported heavy fire from the street and requested a road block of Green Bay Road between Washington Place and Roger Williams Avenue. The Broadview Avenue and Roger Williams Avenue intersection was also blocked.
North Shore Gas was notified and requested to expedite a crew to the scene. A bobcat excavator and generator were involved with fire — located near flames that erupted about 30 feet into the air from the gas main fire. The gas line was hit during excavation.
ComEd was requested to shut off electricity to a house that was close to the fire. Gas and electricity was shut off to that house.
As of 6:40 p.m. authorities were not evacuating neighbors near the fire. Neighbors were staying alert Monday night for possible evacuation orders. Firefighters were checking nearby for heat damage, and standing by to protect exposures.
Initially, no injuries were reported.
According to the National Weather Service report from Chicago Executive Airport, wind was from the north at 15 MPH around the time of the rupture and natural gas ignition. The next two hours wind gusts from the north picked up from 20 to 24 MPH.
The information in this article is an early report published before any summary information was confirmed or released by police or fire authorities.
DEVELOPING IF CONTENT IS AVAILABLE …
Stay informed with news from The Cardinal’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor