A quiet Tuesday in Northeast Vancouver turned chaotic when workers struck a buried gas line, sending a sharp odor through the neighborhood and drawing a heavy emergency response. Authorities ordered residents from roughly 20 homes to evacuate, blocked off several nearby streets and brought in hazardous-materials teams to gauge the danger. Neighbors were told to steer clear while crews worked to secure the damaged line and keep a close eye on air quality.
Officials set up a bus shelter and said: do not drive
The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency urged residents to "gather your family members and pets, secure your home if you can do so quickly, and leave on foot" and warned people not to drive away, since a running vehicle could ignite any leaked gas, according to CRESA. Instead, evacuees were directed to a C-TRAN bus parked a few blocks away at Northeast 62nd Street and Northeast 59th Avenue, which served as a temporary shelter while crews handled the leak.
How the line was hit and what happened next
The Vancouver Fire Department told KATU that workers accidentally damaged a two-inch gas line near Northeast 60th Avenue and Northeast 60th Street around 10:20 a.m. Northwest Natural crews arrived and capped the line, and officials said residents would not be allowed back into their homes until the odor in the area had dissipated.
Gas line strikes keep happening, and what officials say to do
Utility strikes that rupture buried gas lines remain a recurring hazard during construction projects. Earlier this month, more than 70 homes were evacuated during a separate Vancouver gas leak, according to KPTV. Officials advise anyone who smells natural gas to call the gas company's emergency number and save 911 for situations that are clearly life threatening, per CRESA.
