The Blaine House in Augusta is pictured on May 6, 2020. Credit: Natalie Williams / BDN

The Blaine House was evacuated Tuesday morning because of a gas leak.

The gas leak happened about 10 a.m. around 200 State St. in Augusta, which is near the governor’s mansion, according to Augusta Fire and Rescue.

A spokesperson for Gov. Janet Mills said construction crews at the Blaine House hit a gas line, and the mansion was evacuated as a precaution.

“Everyone is safe,” the spokesperson said in an email.

That leak was resolved before 10:30 a.m., according to Augusta Fire and Rescue.

The Blaine House has been getting a number of upgrades since last year, including a new reinforced security fence around its perimeter and a back entrance that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Those upgrades, estimated to cost about $4.5 million, stem from a 2018 security study.

The Blaine House, built by retired ship captain James Hall in 1833 and purchased by the politician James G. Blaine as a gift for his wife in 1862, has served as the official residence for the governor since the administration of Republican Carl E. Milliken.

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