A company digging at Cranberry Plaza in East Wareham hit a gas line at approximately 8:15 a.m. on Monday, causing an evacuation of the plaza and interrupting dialysis treatment at Hawthorn Kidney Center, according to emergency responders.

The incident occurred at the end of the plaza nearest Dollar Tree, behind the building.

"There were odors of gas everywhere. Inside, outside...," said Wareham Fire Department Assistant Chief Patrick Haskell, adding that Onset Fire Chief Raymond Goodwin could detect gas as far away as Tractor Supply. That building is located past the opposite end of the plaza from where the gas line was hit, across a large parking lot.

National Grid responded and secured the gas line, Haskell said.

Haskell said the department had to call for additional emergency responders because of the size of the plaza and the number of people inside at the time.

Wareham EMS Director David Evans said the department's two ambulances responded, as well as two from Bourne, to give the six patients receiving dialysis treatment at Hawthorn Kidney Center a place to stay while they awaited transportation either to other treatment centers or to their homes.

Hawthorn Kidney Center Manager Melissa Poleon said the patients were evacuated without incident. Poleon and staff waited outside of the plaza along with employees from Stop & Shop, Ocean State Job Lot and other businesses while crews worked to fix the leak.

"All of out patients were OK," said Poleon. "Everyone was cleared and the next round arrives at 11 a.m. for the second shift, which we will be ready for."

The entire plaza, from the Dollar Tree to Cardi's Furniture, was evacuated following the leak.

The name of the company that struck the gas line could not be confirmed.

According to town employees, there are no permits on file regarding the construction work that caused the leak. However, a dump truck parked at the construction site on Tuesday had the name “McGourty Co., General Contractor” written on the side. Calls to the Braintree-based company for comment were not returned.

It is unclear whether Dig Safe was contacted before the work. Dig Safe identifies and marks the locations of utility lines.

National Grid spokeswoman Danielle Williamson said approximately 200 people had to be evacuated. Williamson said the incident was under control at 9:15 a.m. and the shops were reopened at 9:50 a.m.

"We're currently working to fix the pipe," said Williamson. "We will have to relight some customers in the plaza once it's completely repaired."

Williamson reminded anyone who will be digging, on either residential or commercial property, to call Dig Safe at 811 to notify utility companies beforehand. State law requires people to notify Dig Safe for even small projects, like installing a mailbox or planting shrubs. The depth of utility lines vary, and there may be multiple utility lines in a common area.