1 Hospitalized After Ellicott City Evacuation: HoCo Fire & Rescue

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Main Street was closed for more than two hours because a gas line was struck in Ellicott City on Thursday, according to authorities. Two roads were closed during the response, and the area was evacuated. A firefighter required medical attention, officials said, and nobody else was injured.

By 2 p.m., Main Street had reopened, the Howard County Police Department reported.

The incident stemmed from an issue with utilities. A gas line in the 8000 block of Tiber Alley was struck around 11:40 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22.

As a result, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services said it evacuated people in 30 buildings, or those within a 1,500-foot radius of the gas line. About 40 firefighters from Howard and Baltimore counties converged to assist.

Evacuations occurred from the railroad bridge to halfway up the hill on Main Street as firefighters investigated, Capt. Roy Taylor of WBAL TV reported.

During the response, Main Street was closed from Old Columbia Pike to the Baltimore County line and St. Paul Street was closed at College Avenue, police said.

By 1:30 p.m., fire officials reported that BGE had secured the gas leak, and police said the area was reopening to pedestrians.

By 2 p.m., authorities reported Main Street had reopened.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital for potential heat exhaustion, according to authorities.