The pilot lights for furnaces in nearly 200 homes will have to be relit by fire officials following a gas line break in Richmond this morning.

The leak occurred at a weld point where two gas pipes meet in a residential neighborhood in the 3100 block of Southwest Parkway. Officials said it broke on its own.

The odor was reported by several people in the area and led to two schools to be shut down today. Vectren North president Brad Ellsworth said the gas company started receiving calls around midnight last night.

Crews worked to repair the break throughout the morning, and residents were being allowed back into homes just before noon.

The Richmond Square Mall was opened to evacuated residents throughout the morning.