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View Larger Map Jersey City apartment building evacuated when contractor working in basement ruptures natural gas line Saturday, November 20, 2010 By BRETT WILSHE JOURNAL STAFF WRITER An apartment building with 37 units was evacuated Thursday afternoon when a contractor working in the building's basement ruptured a natural gas pipe, according to Jersey City Fire Director Armando Roman. Several police and firefighter units responded to the call at 3:24 p.m. after tenants smelled natural gas at 2695 Kennedy Blvd., he said. Firefighters evacuated the building and shut off the valve for the main gas line, Roman said. They then ventilated the building by opening windows and turning on fans before PSE&G took over, he said. No one was hurt in the incident, but Roman said the volume of gas in the building would have been enough to cause a substantial explosion.