Gas leak closes East Islip's Main Street as businesses and homes evacuated, police say

A natural gas leak that forced the evacuation of businesses and residences along the Main Street corridor in East Islip on Friday has been contained, Suffolk County police and fire officials said.

Police said Friday evening that all business owners and residents have been allowed to return.

A 911 call reporting the leak was received at 10:23 a.m. and police said emergency crews had declared the gas shut off and the leak contained at 11:52 a.m.

Fire officials said firefighters from East Islip, Islip, Central Islip and West Sayville responded and by 12:15 p.m. were clearing the scene.

Police said a construction crew hired by the state, which was doing sidewalk and curb repairs, was working in front of the American Legion hall on Bayview Avenue when it struck the gas line. Police said as a result Main Street was closed from Carleton Avenue to William Avenue, with all local stores and business evacuated. Residences on 1st and 2nd Avenues and on Bayview Avenue north of Duval Street also were evacuated by police and firefighters going door-to-door.

It was not clear how many people were affected by the evacuations. It was also not clear how long it would take for the gas line repairs to be completed and service restored.

Police said there were no reported injuries.

With Robert Brodsky

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”