UPDATE: Another gas-line break in Fauntleroy

| Utilities | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

9:18 AM: Another gas-line break in West Seattle – this time at 44th/Kilbourne [map], just south of Fauntleroy’s Endolyne business district. A resident says “workers nicked a line” at the site of an ongoing utility project.

(Added: WSB photo)

9:33 AM: For those in the area who heard what one person described as a “parade of sirens,” this was initially a “natural gas leak/major” callout but has since been downsized, with some responding units dismissed. This by the way is about three-quarters of a mile south of yesterday’s Fauntleroy gas break.

9:48 AM: We talked with SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo at the scene. He says workers reported this, saying they punctured a 2″ gas line. Some nearby houses were evacuated precautionarily. Puget Sound Energy has just arrived to shut down the line.

9:54 AM: And they’ve just done that, firefighters report.

10:15 AM: They’ve now officially demobilized and “turned the scene over to Puget Sound Energy.”

Kyle April 17, 2024 (9:31 am)

Saw a huge fire and ambulance response heading to West Seattle from downtown this morning. Was that this?

WSB April 17, 2024 (9:36 am)

If it was less than an hour ago, yes. The initial response was of the size and type that would have required some units from off-peninsula in addition to the locals.

Fauntleroy dude April 17, 2024 (9:39 am)

Looks like 21 SFD units responded initially. Lots of red trucks, ladders, medic and aid units and assorted assistant chiefs, deputies, pio.

WSB April 17, 2024 (9:53 am)

We just learned at the scene that the line was 2″, which explains the initial “major” designation.

helpermonkey April 17, 2024 (9:59 am)

is that the 3rd gas leak this week? yikes. Call 811 before you dig!

John April 17, 2024 (10:15 am)

In this instance calling 811 would be redundant since this was a professional contract crew hired by the city
Carson April 17, 2024 (10:21 am)

I can attest that calling 811 is borderline useless. I called them, they came out to mark my gas line. I started digging my trench and found the actual gas line over 18 inches away from the line they marked. I still called PSE to be safe. I asked the tech what the yellow wire next to gas was for. He said so they can find and mark the line. I then showed him the yellow like 811 had marked. He looked at the line, then my gas line and just shrugged. Thankfully I was being careful. 811 gives you a false sense of security.
- helpermonkey April 17, 2024 (10:55 am)
  
  well, that’s terrifying!
- wscommuter April 17, 2024 (10:55 am)
  
  What 811 does is provide you with liability protection. Utility locates can be imprecise depending on the utility and the existing data (as-builts from the date of installation). But if you don’t call 811 and you hit a utility, you’ll be in big trouble, legally speaking. If you do call them and still hit the utility because the locate is inaccurate, you’re in much better shape to defend a claim for the expense of repairing the utility.
  - Rob April 17, 2024 (11:47 am)
    
    Marking the right location isn’t primarily for liability. It’s for safety purposes. You think the fire department showed up to see who is liable.
  - Carson April 17, 2024 (1:20 pm)
    
    I took plenty of pictures showing the lines actual location with where they thought it was, with the PSE guy in the picture, just in case they send me a bill for the employee coming out. As a side note, the guy who came out was the nicest guy, helped me bury the line better than it was and pronounced me good to go.

Seattlite April 17, 2024 (12:46 pm)

I already mentioned in the other post regarding a gas line being hit that it is important to report the accident to whomever mapped out the gas line location. Understanding why a gas line is hit after it has been mapped out for the workers who are doing the digging is very important for future reference. Commingled gas lines are common too just like commingled sewer lines.

Hammer in Hand April 17, 2024 (6:14 pm)

You must have 811 locate if your going to dig. the professional crew or not 811 is the marking folksright on the paperwork the is an 18”deviation each side of that markingif you are digging in that zone it must be by handif you have have it marked and you hit it you are in the clear if you hit it with no markings you pay the repair cost times 3.

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