Customers and workers were evacuated from the Wal-Mart Supercenter in American Canyon Thursday after a forklift operator hit a gas line outside the building, according to the American Canyon Fire Department and PG&E. No one was hurt in the early afternoon incident.

The forklift broke a fitting, releasing an unknown amount of gas into the air. American Canyon Fire Capt. David Franquelin said firefighters were called at 1:09 p.m.

“It does appear that there was a brief leak but it (also) does appear it was repaired within minutes,” PG&E spokeswoman Katie Romans said.

Wal-Mart’s parking lot, normally full of cars, was almost empty in the afternoon while PG&E crews repaired the line.

American Canyon police officers blocked the main entrances to the parking lot as fire crews stood by out of precaution.

As they waited for the store to re-open, the few customers in the parking lot said they were told to abandon their baskets, leave the store and stay as far away as possible from the building.

People left the store without incident, according to shopper Trish Mallo of Benicia. “They were surprised, but calm,” Mallo said.

Delivery truck driver Eugene Watte said he saw the forklift operator hit something.

“All of a sudden, there was a high-pressure sound. I ran and he ran,” he said as people returned to the store at around 2:30 p.m.

Wal-Mart sore manager Mike Sellick declined comment..