Gas Leak That Led To Village Evacuation In Chippewa County Stopped

A gas leak Tuesday morning in the Village of Boyd that prompted the evacuation order of the entire village has been stopped, and residents have been cleared to return to the area.

The leak, caused by excavation equipment, has been controlled by We Energies crews, though responders are still on scene in the areas of Murray and Park streets near the center of the village, according to a news release from the Chippewa County 911 Center.

Amy Jahns, a spokeswoman with We Energies, said We Energies was notified of the gas leak at about 9:15 a.m. The leak was stopped about two hours later, she said.

“The important thing is that it’s always good to err on the side of caution,” she said. “Whenever you smell natural gas, it’s always good to leave the area and call 911.”

Chippewa County Sheriff James Kowalczyk said the 4-inch main break is west of the center of Murray Street, the main route that runs through the village.

Kowalczyk estimates the village population at about 600 people, but didn’t know as of late Tuesday morning how many people were evacuated.

Village Clerk Sandra Isaacs evacuated after hearing from village water crews that they had struck a gas line. Just two blocks from the scene of the leak, Isaacs said she couldn’t smell gas upon returning to work, and said officials told her and others in the village to keep their windows open just in case.

After notice of the leak, children were driven by bus to Stanley Elementary School from Boyd Elementary School, said Dennis Brown with Chippewa County Emergency Management.

Stanley-Boyd Area Schools Superintendent Jeff Koenig said just fewer than 100 students in pre-K, a day care and a Catholic school were taken by bus to the elementary school from the Village of Boyd, which is about seven miles from the city of Stanley. Koenig said all students have been picked up by their guardians and Stanley schools are continuing as normal.

Editor’s note: This story was last updated at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, with information from Amy Jahns of We Energies.