COAL GROVE – A resident digging a water line ruptured a gas line on Thursday causing the temporary evacuation of a portion of the village.

Coal Grove Fire Chief Gary Sherman said the resident was digging with a ditch witch when the machine broke the gas line and prompted the evacuation to Dawson-Bryant Junior High School.

“People were evacuated from Washington to Argon streets, Lane Street and part of High Street behind Giovanni’s,” Sherman said.

Employees from Columbia Gas arrived and capped the pipe and residents could return to their homes after about 35 minutes, Sherman said.