The incident happened shortly after 10:25 a.m. at Camden and Rockfish roads. The Stoney Point Fire Department responded to the scene, joined by Fayetteville firefighters, state troopers, and Piedmont Natural Gas crews.
Parents at Cross Kid Preschool on Camden Road had to pick up their children earlier than usual because of the leak.
"I told my wife right away, like, we have to pick her up like early because it's a gas leak, so you never know," said parent Geronimo Trindad.
Trindad described an unusual pickup process.
"We usually pick them up like a different other side of church. So we have a standard process. We had to pick her up like, uh, on iPad, sign her out, sign in here every day. So, yeah, we just kind of figured out a different spot because there's a gas leak going on," he said.
His 5-year-old daughter, a student at the preschool, was confused by the change.
"She was curious, like why I pick her up like a different side of school," Trindad said.
Emergency crews worked through the day to repair the broken gas line. Chopper 11 captured footage of the response from above, while officials closed roads and directed traffic away from the area.
Cumberland County officials posted on Facebook that "air quality readings remain safe," though the smell of natural gas may linger.
Download the ABC11 News app
The closure of Camden Road caused confusion among residents. Carol Ocasio, who has lived in the area for two years and relies on the route daily, was among those forced to take a detour.
"I thought someone got hurt," Ocasio said.
Officials emphasized that though the gas odor may persist, it does not signal immediate danger. They urged residents to remain cautious and avoid the area. The road reopened early Wednesday evening, but crews continued to work to secure the scene.
Anyone with questions or concerns can contact Cumberland County Emergency Services at 910-321-6736.