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NORTH ATTLEBORO - About 20 businesses on Kelley Boulevard were evacuated today after an excavating crew apparently disturbed a buried gas line behind a pizza shop.

Fire officials said the leak in a two-inch gas line occurred shortly after 1 p.m. and that the excavating contractor immediately called 911. No injuries were reported, although witnesses said gas could be seen spewing out of the pipe and a strong smell of gas permeated the area.

Chris McNamara a clerk at Boulevard Liquors, said he went outside to inquire after he saw police vehicles entering the parking lot. He said a member of the excavating crew told him of the leak. A co-worker, Pat Galasso, said she smelled a strong odor of gas after exiting the building.

"They didn't have to tell me to evacuate," she said.

Capt. Scott Meyer of the North Attleboro Fire Department said he was not sure why the digging was taking place in the rear of the building. However he said the presence of the gas line was "clearly marked." Two busy commercial plazas in the area containing a golf driving range, donut shops and pizza stores were evacuated for about an hour.

Fire departments from three communities responded to the gas leak on Kelley Boulevard (Route 152) and set up a 200-foot "safety zone" while investigating the leak. Representatives from Bay State Gas stemmed the leak after turning off a valve in the street.