Seattle firefighters rushed to a building in the 1900 block of 2nd Avenue early Monday after reports of a natural gas leak, with fire officials urging people to steer clear of the block as crews worked the scene. The alert, sent out at 2:05 a.m. Monday, September 21, Pacific time, gave no immediate word on injuries or how long the response would last.
Firefighters are responding to reports of a natural gas leak inside the building, according to the Seattle Fire Dept.
, which posted the warning from its official account. The department advised people to avoid the immediate area while crews investigated, though it did not specify whether the building itself had been evacuated or whether nearby streets were closed.
The incident was reported on the 1900 block of 2nd Avenue.
How Crews Typically Handle a Gas Call Like This
In a reported gas-leak response, fire crews established a safety perimeter and evacuated affected structures. Puget Sound Energy crews secured the line in one leak response.
It remains unclear whether the leak on 2nd Avenue originated from a problem inside the building's own gas infrastructure or from damage to an underground line outside.
A City With a History of Costly Gas Incidents
Seattle has faced serious gas emergencies before. In March 2016, an explosion involving an above-ground service line that remained active despite having been abandoned in 2004 injured nine firefighters and damaged about three dozen businesses, as reported by the Associated Press.
In the aftermath, a proposed settlement called for a $2.75 million penalty, with $1.25 million suspended if Puget Sound Energy completed an inspection and remediation program.
Gas Incidents Have Disrupted Seattle Traffic and Transit
Monday's response follows other gas incidents around the region. A construction-related gas leak on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South forced building evacuations and temporarily halted Sound Transit's Link light rail service, KING 5 reported.
As of Monday morning, it remained unclear whether the 2nd Avenue leak stemmed from an interior building issue or damage to an underground line, and Seattle Fire had not yet said how quickly Puget Sound Energy crews expected to secure the gas flow. Hoodline will update this story as more information becomes available.
