UPDATE: Evacuation Lifted, Avon Cleveland Clinic Employees Return to Work

Update: 11:32 am

Cleveland Clinic employees are returning to work at the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center and the damaged gas line has been repaired.

Columbia Gas has issued the following statement:

Columbia Gas crews have made the situation safe at the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center at 33100 Cleveland Clinic Blvd. in Avon. A riding lawn mower damaged a gas line, and escaping gas ignited. Our crews quickly shut off the gas, the fire has been extinguished and the evacuation has been lifted. We will be on the scene making repairs for several hours so that we can restore gas service to the hospital. Thank you to emergency responders for their great work on this situation.

This situation is a good reminder to be careful when mowing around meters and gas lines. If you damage your gas lines or smell natural gas, leave the area immediately, call 911 and Columbia Gas at 1-800-344-4077, and wait for our crew to arrive.

Avon Police are advising people to avoid the area near the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center due to a gas leak and fire. No injuries have been reported and the gas line has been shut off. Multiple fire departments have responded according to the Chronicle-Telegram.

Check back with Patch as this story develops.

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