Valley City (CSi) Dietrich & Sons company and Heartland Flax in Valley City were evacuated Thursday morning after an underground gas line was ruptured by a construction scraper.

Valley City Fire Chief Gary Retterath says the scraper punched a one inch hole into the 2 inch diameter MDU gas line around 11:50-a.m.

He says crews pinched the line so MDU crews could make the necessary repair about 36 feet from the back of the businesses.

Retterath says Valley City fire crews and police were at the scene for about 90 minutes before employees were let back in the building.