A Seattle Public Utilities crew struck a 4-inch natural gas pipe while installing a water line along Northwest 64th Street in Ballard on Wednesday morning. After receiving a 911 call from the crew, Seattle Fire Department officials closed streets from 20th Avenue Northwest to 22nd Avenue Northwest and evacuated six residents as a precautionary measure, said SFD public information officer Corey Orvold.

According to the Ballard News Tribune, fire department officials reported the area to be secure around 12 p.m. A Puget Sound Energy crew was also dispatched to the scene and were able to shut off two valves, said Orvold.

Natural gas itself is odorless, but an additive called Mercaptain is mixed in to make it smell like rotten eggs. That smell serves as a stinky alert that there may be a leak and residents should call 911 immediately if they detect the smell, said Orvold.

The results of a natural gas leak, which leveled three buildings along Greenwood Avenue in March.
The results of a natural gas leak, which leveled three buildings along Greenwood Avenue in March. ASK

As Greenwood residents are well aware, natural gas leaks are dangerous. Back in March, a massive gas leak destroyed Mr. Gyros, Neptune Coffee, and Quik Stop on 85th Street and Greenwood Avenue.

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Ana Sofia Knauf reports on Neighborhoods for The Stranger. When she’s not commuting to work by bus, she’s worrying about Seattle’s rising rents, giving herself headaches thinking about race, or trying...