NW Bend natural gas line hit, prompts evacuations

A contractor crew replacing an old natural gas line in northwest Bend accidentally hit a 2-inch line with their drill Thursday afternoon, causing a leak that prompted evacuation of about 30 homes in the area until it could be capped, officials said.

The underground drilling company hit the line around 12:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Northwest Riverfront Street near Tumalo Avenue, said Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe.

Firefighters who arrived to the tell-tale hissing sound and rotten-egg smell added to to otherwise odorless natural gas evacuated about 30 homes in the area until the broken line was shut off by Cascade Natural Gas crews, Howe said.

Fire and gas company personnel also checked homes for gas infiltration, making sure no basements filled with natural gas.

Cascade Natural Gas spokesman Mark Hanson said the utility was notified about 12:30 p.m. of the damage to a 2-inch steel main, and the utility’s crews were on scene about 15 minutes later.

As soon as the line was securely clamped off, residents were allowed to return to their homes, though Howe said Riverfront Street at Tumalo Avenue would continue to be blocked for several hours while CNG crews locate and repair the actual break.

Bend police and public works crews also assisted on the scene during the incident, which lasted about 2 hours. Hanson said about 10 natural gas customers lost service due to the break.

Howe said this was not a case of a contractor “digging blindly” without advance checking. But he said anyone doing underground work should be sure to call the utilities locate line at 8-1-1 a few days before you dig.

“They will locate all underground utilities in the area you wish to excavate, free of charge, and can save you a lot of headaches,” Howe said in a news release.