River Street in Hyde Park evacuated when contractors hit gas main

The offending backhoe and the hole where it hit the main. Photo by BFD.

Contractors digging up River Street at Fairmount Avenue struck a 12-inch gas main around 5 p.m., sending natural gas into the air and forcing the evacuation of nearby buildings.

Two of the workers were taken to the hospital for evaluation after reporting lightheadedness, the Boston Fire Department reports. MBTA buses were brought in to give people ordered out of nearby buildings a place to stay out of the rain.

Brian D'Amico reports the gas was not completely shut off until 6:45 p.m. He adds that on its way to the incident, Ladder 28 was involved in a minor accident at River and Maple.