Tour Commander, 509.625.7100
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 8:22 a.m.
On September 18, 2023, at 2:19 p.m., the Spokane Fire Department received a call to respond to a reported gas leak near the Safeway located at 2507 West Wellesley Ave. The initial investigation revealed that the incident was triggered by an excavator accidentally striking a 2" gas line behind a strip mall containing Safeway and the Walmart Shopping Center to the east, releasing gas into the atmosphere.
Due to the proximity of the gas leak to nearby buildings, the incident commander took precautionary measures by ordering the evacuation of citizens and businesses in the affected area. The evacuated establishments included Safeway, Fancy Nails, Global Credit Union, Great Clips, Sally Beauty Supply, Indigo Urgent Care, Starbucks, and the outdoor garden area of Walmart. The evacuation was efficiently carried out and lasted for less than 45 minutes. Fortunately, no natural gas was detected inside any of the buildings, with only a brief detection of a small amount in the garden area of Walmart.
Avista was requested to the scene to repair the damaged section of the gas line. Firefighters stood by with charged hose lines to protect the Avista workers who quickly repaired the affected section of the pipeline, completing the task in less than 20 minutes. Following the successful repair and the elimination of any further danger, the incident commander quickly rescinded the evacuation order. All businesses resumed their regular operations without any reported damages or injuries.
The Spokane Fire Department commends the coordinated efforts of its personnel, Avista, and the evacuated businesses for their swift response and cooperation, which led to a safe and efficient resolution of the gas leak incident.
