A ruptured gas line was reported at the site of the Washington Street road improvement project this afternoon.
Whatcom County Fire Department 7 units and Cascade Natural Gas crews responded. While no building evacuations were being made, a wide area around the rupture site was cordoned off. This included Mug Shots Espresso which closed temporarily since customers could not access their parking lot.
As of 3pm, WCFD7 and CNG crews remain on site and the cordoned off area remains in place.
UPDATE 3:45pm
CNG crews are working to cut through the asphalt roadbed to reach a portion of the pipe that is suspected to have ruptured install a bypass so the gas main serving the neighborhood doesn’t need to be turned off while the line is repaired. While neighbors have been seen leaving nearby homes, there has been no official word of an evacuation. WCFD7 crews remain on-site at the ready. Mug Shots remains closed as are the sidewalks near the rupture site. Traffic on Vista Drive is unaffected.
UPDATE 4:30pm
Work continues to install the bypass so the smaller line needing the repairs can be dealt with. Neighbors are able to get to their homes and apartments via the access on the 3rd Avenue side of the project. There is no access via Vista Drive.
UPDATE 5:30pm
Nothing new to report. CNG and fire crews remain on the scene as repairs are being made. Local access is not available via Vista Drive but is available via 3rd Avenue.