Firefighters were working to prevent a second natural gas explosion at a Orem strip mall, where a construction crew earlier Thursday afternoon broke a natural gas line, triggering a small explosion.
About 2:10 p.m., gas from the broken line at a strip mall near 800 South State Street ignited. No one was injured, although the building received minor damage, Orem fire battalion chief Ryan Peterson said.
Gas was still leaking from the broken line about 2:45 p.m., Peterson said, and fire crews were spraying streams of water to dissipate the gas and try to stop a second explosion. The strip mall was evacuated.
Dominion Energy crews were on scene and will repair the line.
Peterson said it wasn’t clear whether construction equipment sparked the explosion, or if a nearby by electrical transformer was to blame.
State Street was closed in both directions at 800 South, Peterson said. It should be closed until about 4 p.m.
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