UPDATE: ‘Major natural-gas leak’ response at paving-project site on SW Genesee

| Utilities | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

1:12 PM: This morning we mentioned paving work on SW Genesee between 26th and 30th SW. Now there’s a gas leak in the area and the street will be closed until it’s handled – SFD and SPD are headed that way.

1:15 PM: Firefighters have told dispatch it’s a “4-inch main behind a piece of heavy equipment.” They’re having residents in the immediate vicinity “shelter in place” with windows closed. They say the wind “appears to be blowing away” from the residences and are awaiting Puget Sound Energy (which provides gas service in our area).

2:10 PM: SFD reports that PSE has a “temporary shutdown” on the line but is still working to secure it further.

2:18 PM: SFD is affirming that the nearby residents are now safe and they’re reducing their response.

2:38 PM: All SFD units have now cleared. We haven’t heard whether traffic is resuming through the area, though – even before this, it was down to single-lane-with-flagger because of the paving work.

Rachel September 9, 2023 (1:17 pm)

Is that all the sirens?

WSB September 9, 2023 (1:25 pm)

Yes.
- Rachel September 9, 2023 (1:27 pm)
  
  Damn. That is a lot of sirens.

n7oep September 9, 2023 (1:23 pm)

Did someone forget to “Call before you dig”?

Benjammin September 9, 2023 (2:56 pm)

LOL!!! I live on this street, never a dull moment!
Mark47n September 10, 2023 (8:56 am)

Well, getting a locate relies on reliable information, to some extent. Moreover, digging around locates requires a spotter that will open their bloody mouth when they see something. I remember on one job when I had an apprentice spotting for the excavator near a gas line where we were going to put our underground conduits for a large incoming electrical service. The apprentice saw the gas line and said nothing! The position of the gas line was out of the operators line of sight and…he punctured it. Needless to say that caused an uproar. The apprentice, with a shovel in his hand, said he didn’t know he was supposed to stop the operator. He would’ve been fired but he was the son of one of the owners.

Tired WS Mom September 9, 2023 (1:25 pm)

6 fire trucks for this response?! Why are there so many gas main breaks going on lately.

Nick September 9, 2023 (1:34 pm)

Geehz. When I walked by 90min ago the road crew was standing around smoking while an operator worked the excavator…

Nadmiral1 September 9, 2023 (2:05 pm)

Hopefully, you reported that person to either a supervisor on site or to the City of Seattle… And or Puget Sound energy. You could save lives if you bother.

Yikes! September 9, 2023 (1:50 pm)

With the house explosions linked to gas leaks that have been in national news in recent months, you’d think digging crews working areound gas lines in the area would be taking extra precautions. How many gas leaks in the West Seattle area has this been in the past couple of months? Three? More?

K September 9, 2023 (8:57 pm)

I find the whole flippancy around our gas infrastructure in this country very alarming. And that infrastructure that is starting to age as well. We have got to get move away from natural gas for so many reasons!

wetone September 9, 2023 (2:03 pm)

Went down street about 12:30. SDOT had large crew and about 10 trucks with heavy equipment down there tearing up road panels in a couple areas. Sat for a few minutes waiting to go as it was down to 1 lane. No leaky at that time.

flimflam September 9, 2023 (2:05 pm)

Seems like there have been several construction related gas line breaks over the last year or so. I always wonder if they face any fines or consequences…

LongFellow Creek Lover September 9, 2023 (4:05 pm)

I wonder what the work being done is?! It’s upsetting considering that the area is an environmentally critical area with LongFellow Creek right there, going under the road and salmon returning, beavers, otters and such!