Gas Leak Prompts Evacuation Of ESPN Buildings

BRISTOL, CONN. (AP) — Three buildings on the Bristol campus of 24-hour sports network ESPN were evacuated after a construction crew struck a gas line.

Deputy Fire Chief Mark McCarthy says the line was struck by a mini-excavator around 8:25 a.m. Monday in the courtyard of the network’s main campus on Middle Street. Security personnel had evacuated the buildings closest to the leak by the time firefighters arrived on scene.

McCarthy says an Eversource crew arrived about five minutes after firefighters to shut off the gas and air conditioning in the buildings. Employees of the network were allowed back inside by about 9 a.m. after it was determined that there was no trace of gas in the buildings.

The incident did not affect any of the network’s broadcasts.