A Norman firefighter yells for civilians and reporters to stay away from the natural gas line pipe break which occurred near Robinson Avenue on Thursday afternoon. Michelle Gray/The Daily

A section of Robinson Street closed due to a gas leak Thursday leaving some Norman residents concerned for their safety.

The natural gas line running along Fay Avenue and crossing under Robinson Street broke Thursday evening when a contractor punctured the line, said Jim Bailey, Norman deputy fire chief. The contractor and his company were rerouting underground utilities in preparation for a new overpass to be constructed on Robinson Street, he said.

“We’re going to cinch each side of the pipe to make sure the leak stops, and once we get the leak under control, we will then put a patch on the hole,” Bailey said.

Norman residents said no one had told them a leak had taken place until they saw coverage of it on local television stations.

“I heard there might be a gas leak, but no one has told me anything that they are sure of,” said Larry Bartell, who lives on Dale Street.

The area of Dale Street between Peters Avenue and Fay Avenue is one of the areas closest to the leak.

“I saw the fire truck, but I’m not sure what is going on,” said Rose Benda, also a resident of Dale Street. “I’m not sure if I should evacuate or not. No one has given me any answers.”

While being interviewed, Norman firefighters told Benda and Bartell to return to their homes for their safety, and if they felt it necessary, they could evacuate the area.

“I don’t understand how they can give me the option to evacuate if they put a truck and a ‘Road Closed’ sign up as my closest exit,” Benda said.

Norman firefighters eventually moved the sign and truck for residents to evacuate, if they felt it necessary.

Benda said she told firefighters she would stay home, but firefighters told her not to cook anything or do any activities that required an open flame.

“We asked people in the area not to cook because there is natural gas lingering in the air,” Bailey said. “We just want to be sure that nothing sets off the gas that is in the air.”

“I turned off everything that had a pilot light,” Benda said. “It looks like I may have to find something else to eat for dinner tonight.”

“The rupture was significant enough for the police and fire departments to deem it a possible hazard,” said Shawn O’Leary, director of public works for the city of Norman.

O’Leary said the gas pipe was “fairly large.”

-Charles Ward contributed to this report.