Gas Main Break in Albany Results in Evacuation

PHOTO: Albany Fire Department

(ALBANY, Ore.) - The Albany Fire Department responded to 3850 Oakmont Loop NE at approximately 10:32 a.m. today to a reported natural gas line break in a residential neighborhood.

Firefighters arrived at the scene within approximately four minutes to find a broken two-inch gas main damaged by a private contractor while excavating a trench for installation of utilities for a house to be constructed at that location. There was no fire as a result of this incident and crews from NW Natural Gas were at the scene on our arrival.

Firefighters established a safety zone approximately 350 feet in all directions from the break, which resulted in the evacuation of 12 homes in the neighborhood. Firefighters continued to stand by for more than an hour with hose lines while crews from NW Natural Gas stopped the leak.

No injuries resulted from this incident and NW Natural Gas reported no homes in the area would be subject to a service outage while repairs are made.

Three fire engines, two medic units, and three command vehicles responded with 17 personnel to the scene. A fire engine from the Corvallis Fire Department and a medic unit from Lebanon Fire District responded to Albany to provide standby coverage during the incident. Linn County Sherriff’s Office personnel also responded to assist with traffic control.