Courtesy photo Hudson firefighters spray water to dissipate natural gas that was leaking from an underground line at 11 Highland St. Wednesday afternoon. Crews were able to contain the leak until utility personnel shut the line down and repaired it.

HUDSON – Emergency crews and occupants of various homes and businesses in the thickly-settled area of Highland, Derry and Ferry streets had a few anxious moments Wednesday afternoon, when a ruptured natural gas line began spewing forth clouds of the substance from the yard of 11 Highland St.

Fire Capt. Kevin Grebinar said crews headed to the area shortly after 3 p.m., upon receiving a telephone report from a surveyor that he had struck a gas line on the property. The crew of Squad 1, the first unit to arrive, reported “a significant gas leak in the roadway,” and requested that police and representatives of Liberty Utilities be summoned to the scene.

Grebinar, upon his arrival, called for Engines 1 and 4 to respond to the scene, where crews set up three hose lines to protect nearby buildings and dissipate the gas.

Meanwhile, other firefighters checked four nearby houses for the presence of gas, but none was found, Grebinar said.

They also evacuated the occupants of 11 Highland St. “throughout the incident” as a precaution, he said.

Police, with the assistance of town Public Works personnel, closed Highland and Pleasant streets to traffic, rerouting motorists up either Ferry or Derry streets.

Liberty Utilities personnel arrived in about 30 minutes, Grebinar said, and firefighters assisted them in shutting off the gas flow to the punctured line.

The incident was called under control at about 6 p.m., Grebinar said, and firefighters began returning to their respective stations.

Crews from Nashua, Londonderry and Pelham covered Hudson stations during the incident.

An investigation determined that a land surveyor struck the service line to 11 Highland St. while completing work in the area, Grebinar said.

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-1256, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_DeanS.