Gas Pipeline Break Forces Evacuations Of 6 Homes Near Toledo

December 13, 2003
 
By KOMO Staff & News Services

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TOLEDO - Residents of a half-dozen homes were evacuated as a precaution Saturday after a rupture in a natural gas pipeline.

The residents were allowed to return to their homes three hours later, at 11:30 a.m., said Williams Northwest Pipeline spokesman Bev Chipman at the company's Salt Lake City headquarters.

No injuries or property damage were reported. Lewis County and Toledo fire officials conducted the evacuation.

Valves to the 26-inch Northwest pipeline that runs alongside Interstate 5 were closed and gas was diverted into a parallel 30-inch line until repairs begin Sunday. Typically, it takes 10 to 12 hours to make repairs, Chipman said.

The cause of the break is under investigation. The pipeline serves Northwest Natural Gas of Portland, Ore., and Cascade Natural Gas of Seattle.

Williams operates a 4,000-mile natural-gas transmission pipeline that carries the fuel to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.

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