A major problem with a water heater caused a significant gas leak in a Fort Dodge house Friday morning. Nearby homes were evacuated and the streets in the area were closed to traffic.

No injuries or illnesses from the gas leak were reported.

MidAmerican Energy initially received the report of the gas leak at 2128 Second Ave. N. When a service technician from the utility arrived, his gas detection meter picked up a reading of up to 29 percent of the lower explosive limit of natural gas, according to Fire Department reports. He immediately shut off gas to the house from the exterior meter.

The fire and police departments were dispatched at 10:01 a.m.

An electrical service crew from MidAmerican Energy was also called to the scene to shut off power to the house to eliminate the chance that electricity could ignite the gas.

After allowing gas to ventilate from the house, Fire Department Lt. Tom Ubben approached the house with a gas detection meter. He found that the level had gone down. He opened the front and back doors of the house to ventilate the gas.

When firefighters were able to thoroughly check the house, they found a catastrophic failure of the water heater destroyed it and a fitting on the gas line leading to the heater, causing the gas to flow freely.

No one was in the house when firefighters went inside.