Two natural gas leaks in 15 mins. bring out Bend fire crews

Bend firefighters responded to a pair of unrelated natural gas line leaks within about 15 minutes of each other Monday morning, officials said.

The first was called in at 9:15 a.m., at the corner of McNeal Way and LaBiche Lane off Northwest Shevlin Park Road, when a backhoe bucket dropped onto a 2-inch gas line.

Cascade Natural Gas was able to clamp both sides of the break to stop the leak. One commercial building was briefly evacuated.

The second was called in at 9:30 a.m., in the alley between Northwest State Street and Riverside Boulevard, due to an equipment problem on a -inch line. Pacific Power briefly cut power to the overhead lines as a safety precaution. Cascade Natural Gas resolved the issue.

Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe said the first leak prompted the evacuation of a acupuncture office nearby.

While these had other causes, Howe said many natural gas line leaks as construction gears up occur due to contractors or others not calling 811 for crews to come out and mark the locations of utility lines.

“Most of the time, they do,” he said — but when they don’t, lines can be hit and punctured.