Gas leak temporarily closes road in downtown Moscow

A reported gas leak Tuesday morning in an alley east of the former Champions Bar and Grill in downtown Moscow temporarily closed a block of Third Street.

Crews reopened Third Street between Washington and Main streets shortly after 11:30 a.m.

Moscow Volunteer Fire Department Battalion Chief Dana Rand said a contractor was removing debris from the old Champions building when a piece of lumber struck a gas meter and caused the leak. There were no injuries.

Personnel from the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department, Moscow Police Department and Avista arrived on the scene shortly after 10:30 a.m. Moscow Fire Chief Brian Nickerson said the gas was shut off while Avista made repairs.

Avisa spokesperson David Vowels said no customers experienced a disruption of service during the incident. Repairs were completed around 11:20 a.m.

Rand said crews evacuated and closed a one-block area as a precaution because the wind was blowing and crews did not yet know the extent of the gas leak.