Construction workers on the Rhatigan Student Center renewal cut into a natural gas line causing an evacuation of several buildings at Wichita State today.

No one was injured.

Wichita Fire Department Capt. Jason Jones said the 6-inch gas line was on the east side of the RSC.

“It was a fairly high-pressure line,” he said.

Jones said people were asked to the leave the RSC—which happened during an open house for faculty and staff—Elliott and Jardine halls and the Geology Building.

“The evacuation was smooth,” he said. “I’m sure it was less than 100 people.”

Summer classes have ended and fall classes begin later this month.

Jones said the Geology Building was the only one with any significant amount of natural gas and would be aired out before anyone could return.

“They’ll be back within an hour,” he said. “The levels are really low.”

The 53-year-old RSC is being renovated and upgraded over the next 30 months.

“A lot of these (lines) have been here a long time and not clearly marked, I’m sure,” Jones said.

The time from the cut to people returning to the buildings except the Geology Building was about one hour.