GRANITE FALLS — A pair of natural gas leaks reported Thursday night temporarily closed highways near Granite Falls, the Granite Falls Fire Department said.

At 7:06 p.m Thursday, the GFFD was paged to join the Sacred Heart Fire Department at the scene of a possible gas leak in the area near Highways 23 and 212, the GFFD said in a Friday news release. At the time, the winds were strong from the northwest, and were blowing over the highway and a crop field. Responders closed major highways in the area, from east of Granite Falls to Renville County Road 37, and north to Chippewa County Road 38.

Responders found an emergency pressure relief valve was stuck open, the GFFD said. Utility crews were called in. However, the relief valve reset itself after several minutes, and the highway was reopened.

The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, the Renville County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Upper Sioux Community Police and Granite Falls Police all responded at the scene.

Later that night, at 8:59, GFFD was paged again for a natural gas leak near Granite Falls Energy. The highways were shut down again for about three hours, while the gas pipeline owner responded and stabilized the issue, the GFFD said. Granite Falls Ambulance and the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office dispatch also provided support at the scene.