Hartford, WI – At approximately 7:45 a.m. on August 5, 2026, Hartford Fire & Rescue responded to the report of a gas line struck in front of a house located on Branch Street near Grand Avenue. Hartford Police Department arrived on scene and began shutting down road access to the area.
The first arriving incident command vehicle arrived on scene near Branch Street at E. Loos Street, confirming with the police department that all occupants were out of the construction equipment and the house closest to the equipment.
A mini-excavator was located on the sidewalk with pressurized natural gas blowing out of the gas line in the ground.
The first arriving Hartford fire engine staged to the North near E. Loos Street, and the next arriving Hartford truck, ambulance, and command car staged to the South near E. Washington Avenue.
Evacuation of nearby houses was carried out by Hartford Fire & Rescue crews on scene along with the assistance of Hartford Police Department.
Homes and buildings on Branch Street in the general area of E. Loos Street to E. Washington Avenue were evacuated, and were asked to temporarily move outside of that zone.
Several homes on Grand Avenue and E. Rogers Street were also evacuated to keep a safe zone around the active gas leak. All remaining occupants outside of that immediate area were kept in their homes to shelter in place.
WE Energies gas utility equipment and crews arrived on scene shortly after evacuation was completed. Several WE Energies gas utility crews worked to shut off the 2” supply line underground. After the gas was shut off, homes in the immediate area were checked with combustible gas meters for the presence of natural gas.
After an all-clear was issued in collaboration between incident command and WE Energies, occupants were allowed to return to their homes just before 9:00 A.M.
WE Energies gas utility crews remained on scene to repair the gas line, and to continue metering the area and local homes.
Anyone experiencing a smell of gas in the immediate area was asked to make contact with the WE Energies gas utility crews on scene for further evaluation of their gas service. Hartford Police Department also remained on scene to continue the road closures until equipment could be removed from the roadway. No injuries to civilians or fire & rescue personnel occurred.