Construction workers hit a natural gas main Monday morning in front of Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, 1224 Dempster St. The synagogue was evacuated but no injuries were reported, fire officials said.

A construction team was placing a sewage line underground at Dempster Street between Ridge and Asbury avenues when it hit a gas main, said Glenn Vanek, shift hazardous materials coordinator for the Evanston Fire Department. Besides the synagogue, no other homes or businesses were evacuated.

Students were attending preschool at Beth Emet when the synagogue was evacuated, Vanek said.

“There was no gas in the building,” he said.

The fire department received a call at 8:53 a.m. about the gas main break, Vanek said, and by noon Nicor, the gas company, was able to stop the leak.

But Beth Emet remained closed for the day, although Vanek said people were allowed back into the synagogue after 12 p.m.

By 1 p.m., the gas company was beginning to repair the main break. Vanek said it should have been repaired by Monday evening.

Gas penetrated vaults lie underground and are where utility workers, such as phone company servicers, make constructions or repairs. No one was inside the vaults and firefighters were able to ventilate them, Vanek said.

– Lensay Abadula