Gas leak shuts down Aspen pedestrian mall, downtown area during lunch hour

Aspen fire and police officials closed down streets and evacuated businesses in the downtown area Thursday afternoon after responding to a gas leak in the alley between Hopkins and Hyman avenues.

Police said a man was working on a gas line in the alley behind Annette’s Mountain Bake Shop when a part broke and caused a leak. The closures around the alley included Mill and Galena streets.

After the line was fixed, crews went through the businesses backing to the alley to clear each one. They were slowed a bit as some shops are closed for the offseason, and they had to make sure there was no one injured inside.