Natural gas leak capped off in Oregon City

OREGON CITY, Ore. - Crews worked feverishly to cap a natural gas leak Wednesday at 320 Warner Milne Road in Oregon City, south of Molalla Avenue near the courthouse and other government offices.

The leak was capped by 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, said NW Natural spokesperson Jenna Cooper-Gross. NW Natural has confirmed that it is a 1-inch steel natural gas line has been leaking into a utility vault - and into the ground.

"That's the big worry for us," said Steve McAdoo, spokesperson for first-responders Clackamas Fire District No. 1. "The gas seeps into the ground, into the soil and pops up wherever it can."

McAdoo said crews are concerned that there may be pilot lights or other flames still on in the area. He cites similarities to a Canby gas leak, which also fed into the ground, that required evacuation of an entire city street in March.

Natural gas does dissipate when it hits the air. Its dissipation is aided today by high winds across the Portland area.

Local buildings on a three-block stretch of Warner Milne road were evacuated, including a Bugatti's Restaurant, the Oregon City police station, a church and a few residences. As many as 50 people were displaced from eight buildings as of Wednesday morning, McAdoo said.

A gas company spokesperson said there were no more than 30 residents displaced.

The leak was caused during construction, McAdoo said. "They're replacing all kinds of utilities on Warner Milne," he said, "and construction crews accidentally hit the pipe."

NW Natural sent its mini-rigs to tap the source of the leak.

Traffic was being controlled by Oregon City police (dislocated from their office anyhow), and Gladstone Fire crews assisted. As of Wednesday morning, "we've circled the area to keep people out," McAdoo said.

Molalla Avenue was reportedly closed from Warner Milne Road to South Beavercreek Road, but has returned to normal construction access as of Wednesday afternoon.

Cooper-Gross said the issue of who will cover the cost of repair and lost natural resources has yet to be determined. "We'll assess this later," she said. She said construction was being done by a contracting firm, possibly on a city project.

Gas should be restored by Wednesday evening to those locations where it was shut off, said Cooper-Gross. 
 

Interview with McAdoo (before all of the details above had been fleshed out) at the scene, courtesy KATU Photojournalist Michael Brandenberger: