Published: Nov. 18, 1997

A major gas line leak at 18th Street and Colorado Avenue on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus caused the evacuation of 12 campus buildings Wednesday morning.

No injuries were reported, according to ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ police.

The leak was reported about 9:35 a.m. Buildings were evacuated by building proctors and campus police officers. Affected buildings were Muenzinger Psychology, Ketchum Arts and Sciences, Hunter Science, Duane Physics, Environmental Design, Fine Arts, JILA, Music, Cristol Chemistry and Biochemistry, MCD Biology, Ramaley and Telecommunications.

By noon, eight of the buildings were approved for occupancy by ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ and Public Service officials, and students, faculty and staff were readmitted. The remaining buildings were being checked and were expected to reopen Wednesday afternoon.

Baker Hall also was briefly evacuated but students were allowed back into the building before 11 a.m.

Public Service Co. crews were at the scene and working to correct the problem. They immediately began checking the gas line to determine the extent of the leak and venting steam tunnels leading to the six buildings.

The gas line is owned and operated by the Public Service Co. ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ officials said they don't believe the gas leak is related to the steam generator explosion at the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Power Plant on Oct. 30, or to recent construction on 18th Street.

The cause of the gas line leak is being investigated. Occupants of the affected buildings reported the problem to ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ police when they noticed a strong odor.