At least 35 adults and 17 children were evacuated from businesses in North Fort Worth after a natural gas line was damaged, according to the Fort Worth Fire Department. The call came in just after 4 p.m. Wednesday for the 2700 block of Basswood Boulevard.
Fire department spokesperson Craig Trojacek told KERA that evacuees were first taken to the nearby Whitewater Express Car Wash, which closed to offer shelter and drinking water. He said no one was taken to the hospital and that the evacuees were from Action Behavior Center. Parents were called to pick up their children.
Atmos Energy said in an emailed statement that construction crews not connected to the company damaged a natural gas pipeline in the area. The company said its crews were still working on repairs around 5 p.m. Some streets are closed, and westbound I-35W from Basswood Boulevard to Horseman Road is closed for now. Fort Worth police asked drivers to avoid the area if possible.