Bellevue Fire units were alerted to a natural gas leak near the interchange of State Route 520 and 84th Avenue Northeast at 7:33 a.m., June 11.A contractor broke a two-inch natural gas line while digging in a culvert during the 520 widening project.
The incident was in the 8000 block of Northeast 28th Street. The gas line break was on the south side of the freeway.
Northeast 28th Street was closed from for the duration of the event. Approximately 15 construction workers, who were working in the vicinity at the time of the incident, were evacuated.Additionally 12 single-family residences were voluntarily evacuated as a precaution. Several schoolchildren waiting for the bus were asked to return home.
Washington State Patrol was staged on 520 in cast the need to close the major thoroughfare was deemed necessary. Strong winds eliminated the need for such action.
Puget Sound Energy was notified and responded immediately.Bellevue Fire units were on scene, with charged hose lines, in case of possible gas ignition.Initial efforts to clamp the gas line were successful. The gas line was then shut off without incident.
Natural gas is much lighter than air and if not confined will dissipate rapidly.Working with representatives from PSE, Bellevue firefighters checked all areas of the hazard zone to determine if any gas remained.After checking all areas, including the culvert transcending State Route 520 project, it, too, was determined to be safe.
There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.A total of 12 fire department personnel responded to the incident.Medina and Clyde Hill police were able to open Northeast 28th Street an hour later.