A gas leak that resulted in a building explosion in the southern end of downtown Hutchinson Saturday morning prompted an evacuation alert for nearby residents.

Crews have initiated a defensive operation using unmanned fire streams. All city resources from Hutchinson Fire and Buhler Fire, District 3, and South Hutch were deployed. The State Regional Hazmat team from Sedgwick County will be on-site to perform remote unmanned monitoring for gas.

Fire crews and investigators are still working to determine the cause of the explosion and where the fire is coming from. With gas and electricity still cut off for much of the area, many residents and business owners are left with questions.

The Department of Public Utilities is demanding that the state's five gas companies cut residential gas bills by 5% starting next month.

Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell both demanded the Department of Public Utilities and gas companies do more than offer a 5% rate cut​.

Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities have ordered gas utility companies to lower customer bills after many reported skyrocketing rates this year. In a letter Thursday, the department's commissioners ordered the state's five gas utilities to lower customer bills by at least 5% for March and April.