North Spokane water main break ruptures gas line

North Spokane residents were evacuated from their homes for a couple of hours Monday afternoon when a water main break ruptured a natural gas line in the area of Holyoke Avenue and Belt Street. Some homes have flooded basements following the incident, which occurred around 1:30 p.m. Avista Utilities workers repaired the gas line break. About 20 homes were briefly without water after the city shut down water to that line, a news release from the city said. The city will repair the water line once it’s safe to do so and a claims adjuster will visit affected homeowners, the release said. The pressure from the water line broke the asphalt and the gas line, and gas was leaking for about 20 minutes, said Bob Green, battalion chief for Spokane Fire Department. Residents were evacuated in the block fronted by Belt and Holyoke avenues and Rosewood and Nettleton streets, Green said. No one was hurt. Residents were allowed to begin returning to homes around 3 p.m. after testing was done to ensure natural gas levels were safe, Green said.