Crews from the Greenville Utilities Commission were busy Friday restoring gas service to homes on Spring Forrest Road.

GUC spokesperson Sue Hatch said that Nichols Contracting from Grifton accidentally cut a gas line while doing construction work in the area.

Hatch said the initial cut of the 2-inch line was a quick fix for GUC crews who dealt with the problem in about 20 minutes.

But by 1 p.m., GUC was notified that 66 customers on Spring Forrest Road were without service because a valve had been turned off. Hatch said the valve was not turned off by GUC workers.

The contractors also have said they did not turn off the valve.

Barry Perry, GUC gas system supervisor, said crews have to go to each home and investigate the connection to the meter and relight pilot lights to gas appliances such as water heaters or gas logs.

“When the valve is shut off, the houses lose pressure and all the pilot lights go out,” he said. “We have to go back in and relight them.”

Crews only can investigate a house’s gas system if the occupant is at home, so some occupants returned home to no gas service and a sign on the door telling them to call GUC for service immediately.

Contact Josh Humphries at jhumphries@reflector.com or (252) 329-9565.