SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah (KUTV) — Evacuations were ordered for a South Salt Lake neighborhood after a gas leak ignited into flames.

At approximately 5:20 p.m., a power line went down and started a truck fire. Firefighters with the South Salt Lake Fire Department and Unified Fire Authority responded to the scene and noticed that the ground and a gas meter caught fire as well.

Crews determined there was a gas leak underneath the road, and residents in the area from 3300 South to 3500 South and from West Temple to 200 West in South Salt Lake were asked to evacuate immediately.

The gas leak was finally shut off around 9:30 p.m.

Crews needed to excavate the road to secure the gas line and then ventilate the structures to make sure there were no residual fumes.

South Salt Lake Fire Chief Terry Addison said his biggest concern was whether gas continued to go into buildings.

“We don’t want any of the gas to go inside any of the structures and find an ignition source where they could possibly start another fire or, worse yet, possibly an explosion,” he said.

Crews allowed the fire to burn to keep some of the pressure off the line.

“We had the hazmat crews go through, monitor all the storm drains, monitor their sewer, monitor the different areas around the different buildings,” Addison said. “There’s no evidence of any gas beyond east of this location.”

Utah Transit Authority set up a warming bus for those who evacuated but have nowhere to go, and an evacuation shelter was set up at 3805 South Main Street.

Additionally, Rocky Mountain Power confirmed 2,747 customers were without power, although it was unclear if the two events were connected.

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