74
A portion of a small street in the industrial section of Kalihi was shut down following a mishap that caused a gas leak this afternoon.
A company was welding in front of 941 Owen Street when a piece of welding material fell on a polyethylene gas pipe line and melted it, causing a small fire about 1 p.m., said Joe Boivin, a spokesman for the Gas Co.
Workers in the area put dirt on the fire, successfully extinguishing it, Boivin said.
A portion of Owen, which is off North King Street near Middle Street, remained closed as Gas Co. employees worked to fix the 5/8th-inch pipe, he said.
There were no injuries as a result of the incident. But about a dozen people living in a nearby walkup apartment and area workers were evacuated for about 15 minutes until the leak was secured, said Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Terry Seelig.
