UPDATE: West Seattle YMCA contractors hit gas line in The Triangle

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8:36 AM: Thanks for the tips. En route to check this out – a big Seattle Fire response to a report of a natural-gas leak in the 4500 block of 37th SW in The Triangle.

8:41 AM: The West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) tells us via e-mail, “Contractors working on the Y street improvements on SW Oregon hit a gas line about 8 am today. Gas company and fire department were contacted and we evacuated members from the building as a precaution.” Per scanner, 36th SW has been closed to traffic in the area, and according to the Y, SFD is “evacuating businesses on north side of Oregon (Tom’s, West Seattle Brake, City Dog).”

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8:51 AM: Per the Y, “the leak is secured and off – waiting to hear if we are letting members back in yet.”

8:56 AM: Alaska is blocked too but this should be winding down soon, our crew has learned at the scene. The Y says it’s been given clearance to reopen. SFD tells us an engine will remain in the area for a while.

9:08 AM: Here’s the spot where the crew hit the line:

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The nearby businesses are all open again too. No injuries.

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10:35 AM: Added two more photos above. And just received this one from one of the briefly evacuated businesses nearby, Dog City:

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They report that they “felt super safe during (the situation) with our local fire department! Needless to say the firefighter had a grin from ear to ear with all the attention. This is why we also donate to our local fire department because these guys rock!”

And Joleen Post, ace tipster from the Y, sent this photo of “Tish‘s dance class” temporarily switching locations during the evacuation:

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Again, everything is OK in the area now, and SFD has long since cleared out.

21 Replies to "UPDATE: West Seattle YMCA contractors hit gas line in The Triangle"

  • Ok then. August 26, 2016 (8:38 am)

    Contractors working at the YMCA?

    https://twitter.com/WestSeattleYMCA

  • Joleen Post August 26, 2016 (8:39 am)

    Contractors working on the Y street improvements on SW
    Oregon hit a gas line at about 8am today.  The gas company and fire department were contacted and we evacuated members
    from the building as a precaution. The fire department is on scene. They are taking precautions and evacuating businesses on north side of Oregon (Tom’s, West Seattle Brake, City
    Dog).

  • Sevenless August 26, 2016 (8:41 am)

    The SFD scanner mentioned that a construction crew accidentally ruptured a 2″ gas main at 37th & Oregon.

  • Sarah August 26, 2016 (8:43 am)

    The leak is in the West Seattle Y. At least nine trucks on Alaska and 37th by the American Legion. 

    • WSB August 26, 2016 (8:46 am)

      Yes, we have updated the story after getting info from the Y via e-mail. (And our crew should be in the area shortly.) Thanks.

  • Dirk August 26, 2016 (8:50 am)

    C is rerouted down Fauntleroy to Avalon

    • WSB August 26, 2016 (8:53 am)

      Thanks, Metro has not sent an alert on that.

  • AMD August 26, 2016 (9:00 am)

    Call 8-1-1 before you dig.

  • WSJoe August 26, 2016 (9:11 am)

    Must have been 20 fire trucks across the bridge in response.   Don’t want another Greenwood.  Thanks SFD.

  • Trickycoolj August 26, 2016 (9:14 am)

    Is this why I hear helicopters by High Point?

    • WSB August 26, 2016 (9:20 am)

      Patrick is just back from the gas-leak scene and tells me he saw Guardian One take a loop or two over the High Point area while he was headed back this way, but it’s gone now and there’s no obvious reason why.

  • KatherineL August 26, 2016 (10:28 am)

    Don’t contractors get maps of gas lines, water lines, etc. from the city before they start to dig?

  • Kathy August 26, 2016 (11:05 am)

    Thanks to all the brave and incredible responders.  A potential disaster averted.  And just have to say that I LOVE the Dog City photo with the firefighter.  Photo of the week for sure! Thanks WSB for keeping us updated, up to the minute – as always.

  • Josh Sutton, YMCA August 26, 2016 (12:15 pm)

    KatherineL –

     Contractor & sub contractors did locates with the gas company (and other utilities) and area was well marked prior to work.

     The line that was hit was a dead end off of a “T” and was not shown on locates.

     We’re thankful that everyone is ok across our neighborhood, and appreciate everyone checking in.  Especially thankful for the significant and quick response from our Seattle Fire Department.

  • 22blades August 26, 2016 (12:26 pm)

    There should be no excuse this day in age for this especially in light of the recent Greewood explosion. Greed breeds carelessness and the oversight of many of these projects is grossly inadequate.

    • WSB August 26, 2016 (12:30 pm)

      22, Josh Sutton’s comment was still in queue when you wrote yours, but please see his for what they have learned about how/why this happened.

      • 22blades August 26, 2016 (4:54 pm)

        I stand by my comments and would tefer to the Gas Company well. As a matter of fact, since 1997 when our utilities were privatized, I my observation is that the utlity’s response to the consumer is barely adequate at best.

        I travel for a living & I can assure you, this city’s performance in infrastructure projects is abysmal.

  • Chris W August 26, 2016 (3:17 pm)

    Did they actually move all those dogs?  If so, I’d love to know where they put them.  Nice work SFD. 

    • WSB August 26, 2016 (3:21 pm)

      Chris: I asked DogCity that when they texted the photo. Short answer: No. The FD checked on them and was ready to help move them if it was deemed necessary but it wasn’t. This whole big event was intense for a short while but ended in the span of less than an hour, luckily, and without injury to person or critter…

  • Chris W August 26, 2016 (7:20 pm)

    Thanks WSB! 

  • Julie Farmer August 27, 2016 (1:45 pm)

    Thanks for the great article and photos.

    Shared to Facebook as usual.

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