PPL Gas Utilities crews are working this morning to restore natural gas service to approximately 1,000 customers in the town of Jim Thorpe, Pa., after a highway bridge carrying a gas main apparently was hit by lightning.

The Route 903 bridge over the Lehigh River in Jim Thorpe was damaged at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, causing an 8-inch gas main to leak. The gas ignited, producing a fire.

"This was an unusual event," said Louis Walter, operations manager for PPL Gas Utilities’ Central Region.

During the night, PPL Gas Utilities employees closed a valve that sends natural gas into the Jim Thorpe gas pipeline system. Service also had to be shut off at the meters of individual customers. The fire then burned itself out.

By 8 a.m. today, crews will begin turning the meters back on and relighting pilot lights. That job is time-consuming, because crews must enter each customer’s home or business. PPL Gas Utilities has dispatched extra crews to perform the work.

"We’re doing what we can to get customers back in service as quickly as possible," Walter said. "It will take much of the day before we can get to everyone."

If you return home from work this afternoon and your gas has not been restored, please call PPL Gas Utilities’ customer contact center at 1-800-652-0550.