DEVELOPING STORY: Iron River, WI Residents Evacuated, Highway 2 Closed Due To Gas Line Break

UPDATE: 5/6/26 2:10 pm: Bayfield County officials have given the all-clear after an evacuation order for the city, allowing residents and business owners to return after being evacuated to the Bayfield County Fairgrounds earlier in the afternoon.

The evacuation order and closure of Highway 2 through town went into effect just before 1 pm on Wednesday afternoon, with the all-clear being given just after 2 pm.

As of the 2 pm update, about 30 homes remain without heat due to the gas line issue. The saferoom established at the Bayfield County Fairgrounds will remain open until the remaining repairs are completed if you need a warm place to go. The facility is heated and has restrooms and electricity, but pets are not allowed inside.

Officials say as of 2 pm, the leak has been contained, but if anyone smells natural gas, you should contact the Bayfield County Emergency Management at (715) 373-6113. They ask that you share your name, address, and phone number.

They also say if you smell gas, near or in a building, you should not enter, or you should leave the building if you are already inside.

ORIGINAL STORY 5/6/26 1:30 pm: On Wednesday afternoon, officials with Bayfield County alerted residents of Iron River, Wisconsin, that they needed to evacuate due to a gas line break in the city.

County officials issued the evacuation order at 12:45 pmm, telling residents to evacuate to the Bayfield County Fairgrounds, which is just northwest of the city.

US Highway 2, which runs right through downtown Iron River, is closed right now due to the incident.

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Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation posted an update at 1:30 on Wednesday afternoon about the closure of the highway through town. The closure extends from Norway Road on the west side of Iron River to Jackman Lake Road on the east side of town.

The detour during this closure is as follows, according to 511 WI:

Alternate Route: Eastbound: Go southbound on Wisconsin Highway 27, then eastbound on Hwy N, then northbound on US Highway 63, back to US 2. 

Westbound: Same route in reverse

This is a developing situation, with limited information available at this time. Locals in the area reported seeing fire trucks reporting to a scene before the alert to evacuate.

County officials from Bayfield County say they will be providing more updates soon. We'll provide the latest as more information becomes available.