Homes Evacuated After Gas Leak During Work on Enbridge’s Line 5
Construction in town of Saxon near Lake Superior results in truck striking gas transmission line.
Construction equipment can be seen in the background of pipes staged for Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute in Iron County on June 28, 2026. Danielle Kaeding/WPR
Homes have been evacuated as a precaution after a gas leak occurred during work on Enbridge’s Line 5 oil and gas pipeline in rural northern Wisconsin.
The incident occurred around 10 a.m. near Sitan Road in the town of Saxon in rural Iron County, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Enbridge spokesperson Juli Kellner said a parked, unoccupied semi truck rolled over into an open excavation site on a Line 5 valve project in rural Iron County, striking the pipe and releasing natural gas liquids.
“No one was injured. As a precaution, nearby rural homes have been evacuated,” Kellner wrote. “The section of pipe was immediately isolated, and local emergency response crews are on site.”
Only one person was evacuated, according to Enbridge. Drone footage showed plumes of gas escaping from the line. A DNR spokesperson says the volume of the release has yet to be determined.
Natural gas liquids are hydrocarbons that include ethane, propane, butane, isobutane and gasoline. They are separated from natural gas during processing and used as fuels and feedstock in production of plastics, medical supplies, fertilizers and other products.
The DNR said the line has been shut down to prevent any further release until repairs are made.
Environmental consulting firm Stantec is also on site to perform air monitoring.
In a Facebook post, Iron County Sheriff Paul Samardich said Sitan Road has been closed until further notice, adding that haz-mat teams are on site.
“A temporary no-fly zone has also been established in the area. Due to safety concerns, power in the affected area has been shut down, and arrangements are being made to assist those affected by the temporary power outage. The public is asked to avoid the area and follow instructions from emergency personnel,” Samardich wrote.
Elizabeth Arbuckle with the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa said in a statement to community members that the tribe’s fire and first responder services were among crews that remained on standby at the site, which is roughly 5 miles east of the tribe’s reservation.
“Based on current conditions and evaluations, the natural gas released is not moving towards the reservation; we will continue to monitor and reevaluate if conditions change,” Arbuckle said.
Enbridge notified the National Response Center of the release at 11:02 a.m. and the DNR spills hotline at 11:15 a.m., according to the DNR.
Construction of Enbridge’s $1 billion reroute of Line 5 has been ongoing. The company is building a new 41-mile stretch around the tribe’s reservation in Ashland and Iron counties. The pipeline carries up to 23 million gallons of oil per day from Superior through northern Wisconsin and Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario.
Enbridge proposed the Line 5 reroute after the Bad River tribe sued the company in 2019 to shut down and remove the pipeline from tribal lands where easements had expired.
Supporters say the project creates up to 700 jobs and a $135 million economic impact, but opponents highlight the company’s environmental track record. Enbridge is responsible for some of the largest inland oil spills, including a 2010 spill into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River.
At least four releases of drilling fluid, or frac-outs, have occurred on the Line 5 project, ranging from roughly 5 gallons to up to 1,900 gallons spilled in late June.
Homes evacuated after gas leak occurs during work on Enbridge’s Line 5 was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
If you think stories like this are important, become a member of Urban Milwaukee and help support real, independent journalism. Plus you get some cool added benefits.
