Gas leak closes Palatine's St. Theresa School

St. Theresa School in Palatine is closed Friday due to a gas leak, but the adjacent parish remains open.

Nicor Gas spokesman Richard Caragol said the utility company received a call at 6:06 p.m. Thursday about a potential leak near the Catholic elementary school's entrance, located on Benton Street near Northwest Highway.

Crews arrived at the site within 30 minutes and determined the leak stemmed from a service line leading to the school. The gas was shut off about 9 p.m. Thursday, Caragol said.

Nicor Gas will work this morning to replace the entire service line using a method that won't damage cement or pavement around the school.

Hank Aleliunas, assistant business manager at St. Theresa Parish, said he smelled gas inside the vestibule last night and called Nicor.

“There was absolutely no danger, but when it comes to our children and parishioners we take everything very seriously,” Aleliunas said Friday. “The principal (Dorothy Aebersold) thought it best to give Nicor free reign to work today.”

Palatine police said early Friday they weren't aware of a gas leak in the area and Palatine Fire Captain Doug Hoyt also said the fire department wasn't called to the scene.