Update: Big Seattle Fire response after gas line cut in Arbor Heights; no injuries, repairs under way

(WSB photo, added)
3:22 PM: Big Seattle Fire callout categorized as “natural gas leak – major” in the 9800 block of 34th SW. More to come.

3:28 PM: Some of the responding units are being dismissed. Crews on scene say it’s a 2-inch line, cut during construction activity.

3:37 PM: Our crew at the scene says Puget Sound Energy has arrived to shut off the gas. It’s a residential construction site. (You can see the excavator behind the truck.) No injuries. The smell – which should dissipate soon – is most noticeable to the north. P.S. Our crew says a TV helicopter has arrived in the area.

4:13 PM: Just in case you live in the area and are wondering what you’ll find when you get home – the SFD response is closed; the gas line is being fixed; SFD has confirmed no injuries, no evacuations.

Jacob September 18, 2014 (3:34 pm)

I can smell gas quite strongly by 35th and roxburry,

alki resident September 18, 2014 (3:42 pm)

Helicopter flying over scene

WSB September 18, 2014 (3:47 pm)

Yup, as mentioned in copy. Just TV. Doubt it looks like much from the air – and there, it sounds like they’re leaving, heading westbound over us now.

Jordan September 18, 2014 (3:47 pm)

Heard the helicopter from Fauntleroy and came here to find out why. Love that the WSB has that information as soon as I come to find it.

Claire Jaramillo September 18, 2014 (3:48 pm)

I live a block away from where all the activity is going on. I came walking outside to meet my daughter at her bus stop and noticed tons of fire trucks and police blocking off the block North of mine. I couldn’t see any smoke thank goodness.. (the blow torched spider incident was one house away from mine).. But I couldn’t smell any natural gas either so the report and comment about it being noticeable to the North of the house is definitely true. Glad no one was hurt!

Terri September 18, 2014 (3:48 pm)

Assume that’s a TV news helicopter currently hovering overhead?

Claire Jaramillo September 18, 2014 (4:01 pm)

@Terri- yes, the crew said they were told a news chopper was coming to check it out I guess.. Like WSB said there’s probably not a whole lot to see from above especially now that a lot of tge trucks have taken off now.

Dennis September 18, 2014 (4:03 pm)

Remember to ‘dial before you dig’ or make sure your contractor has… this could have ended horribly.
http://pse.com/safety/NaturalGasSafety/Pages/Know-Whats-Below.aspx

dhg September 18, 2014 (4:16 pm)

I guess the headline should’ve read “Big Seattle Fire Response…” I was reading down, looking for how bad was the fire.

WSB September 18, 2014 (4:24 pm)

Sorry, I botched that when “updating” the headline to change “gas leak” to “gas line cut” and didn’t notice my omission for 15 minutes or so … apologies, apologies. Fixed it in the last 10 mins or so.

flimflam September 18, 2014 (4:42 pm)

cut during construction activity? don’t they check on these sort of minor details?

Jeff September 18, 2014 (6:17 pm)

Flimflam: yes they do, which is why these incidents are so rare relative to the number of projects out there. Sometimes people are careless though, and sometimes the base maps are flawed.

timh2o September 18, 2014 (6:21 pm)

Having dug thru my share of gas lines in my line of work. sometimes the locates are off or they weren’t located after calling for locates these things happen. I have 40 years of digging experience and I’ve only had to call the fire dept. once because the line was next to a residential senior house and the gas from the ruptured line was drifting into the house. Normally I’d shut down the excavator and stand back until the utilities company showed up to fix it.

Kevin September 18, 2014 (7:52 pm)

I walked by and asked the man from the gas company what happened — he said the gas line location had been marked before the road work, but a short section of line wasn’t buried as deep as was supposed to be, and thus was cut by an excavator that was digging a trench above the line.

lina September 18, 2014 (8:35 pm)

I live on east side of 35th between 98th and 99th and it sounds like there is construction happening behind our house, which would be 34th. Is this construction noise I am hearing now (along with my young child trying to go to sleep) There has been a constant beep beep beep of what sounds like a truck backing up or something. Seems a little late for general construction to be happening. I can forgive if it is related to a repair on a gas main… if it is just someone doing loud construction at 8:30 at night in a residential area… I feel less forgiving. Any insight?