Residents of several Steubenville apartment complexes evacuated their homes Wednesday after a natural gas leak.

The leak was the second in weeks on Sunset Boulevard. The leak was fully contained and residents were allowed to go home after a short time.

Firefighters said a company upgrading the line accidentally hit it around 1 p.m. While gas company employees worked to fix the ruptured high-pressure line, firefighters tried to keep people out of the area.

All residents evacuated with the help of emergency crews . Most were taken to the West End Fire Station, while disabled persons were taken by ambulance to a hospital.

Babes Hartman, one of the residents, said the situation did not worry her, but firefighters said they take every precaution.

“It can cause an explosion and it can be very dangerous. When it is controlled like it normally is, it’s not a hazard to people. But, when it’s leaking like this, it’s a big hazard,” Steubenville Fire Chief Terri Kovach.

Firefighters said something as simple as hanging up a telephone could ignite a spark.

“Merely just calling the gas leak in, we’ll tell (the caller), ‘Don’t even hang up.’ Hanging the phone up, flipping a light switch – anything can ignite it,” said Steubenville Assistant Fire Chief Sam Ivokvich.

He said a natural gas leak is one of the touchiest situations they deal with, because at any second it can turn into a full-blown fire.

Ivokvich said even though they can’t see the danger of a natural gas leak, residents should remember even the simplest moves can change the situation.

“Dragging your feet on the carpet, walking through your house, somebody just running their hands through their hair could ignite it,” Ivokvich said.

Crews also blocked off Sunset Boulevard from the American Electric Power parking lot to John Scott Highway until the leak was contained.