200-pound Bend icicle causes damage, natural gas leak

An icicle weighing over 200 pounds fell off a northest Bend home’s roof, causing damage and a natural gas leak, as the area’s big thaw raises the potential of dangerous consequences, fire officials warned Thursday.

One consequence of the recent heavy snow is the formation of large icicles on the edge of the roof, Battalion Chief Dave Howe said. As the weather warms, the icicles start to melt and become unstable.

One such icicle, weighing in excess of 200 pounds, fell off a Bend roof, shearing an outdoor faucet and two exterior light fixtures and damaging the gas meter, which caused a gas leak, Howe said.

In addition, the ice dam that was created by melting snow that froze at the eaves forced water into the home, located in the area of Northeast Sixth Street and DeKalb Avenue.

Howe said the Bend Fire Department recommends that residents safely clear the icicles from the roof edge, remove as much snow from the roof (or hire that job out to a professional) and protect the gas meter with a sheet of plywood propped up against it.

Icicles can be very heavy, Howe said, and as long as there is significant snow on the roof, they will continue to form.

“During the thaw – freeze cycle that will be with us for several days, the icicles may be quite unstable, especially during the afternoon,” the fire official warned.