Gas Leak Closes Bend Street After Construction Crew Strikes Natural Gas Line

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A natural gas leak prompted road closures and shelter-in-place precautions in a southwest Bend neighborhood Thursday afternoon after a construction crew struck a gas line.

Just after noon, Bend Fire & Rescue responded to reports of a gas leak near Southwest Hill Street and Southwest McKinley Avenue.

Officials said construction work on new homes in the area accidentally damaged a natural gas pipe, causing the leak.

As a precaution, nearby residents were briefly advised to shelter in place and keep all doors and windows closed while emergency crews assessed the situation.

Bend Fire officials told KTVZ News the repair process has taken longer than usual because of the location of the damaged pipe. Utility crews must work from both ends of the line, slowly bypassing the affected section before replacing the damaged pipe.

Only a small number of homes lost natural gas service as a result of the leak. However, electricity was shut off in the surrounding neighborhood as a safety measure and will remain off until the leak has been fully sealed.

Emergency crews remained on scene for much of the day working to repair the damaged line and restore services.