Natural Gas Leak Forces Evacuation Of 150 Cornelius Residents Monday

CORNELIUS, OR — About 150 people were temporarily evacuated from their homes following reports of a natural gas leak in Cornelius Monday evening, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Shortly after 6:45 p.m. Oct. 9, the Washington County deputies and NW Natural crews worked with the Cornelius Fire Department to evacuate residents in the area of North Fourth Avenue and Davis Street to the Wal Mart parking lot at 220 N. Adair St., sheriff's officials said in a statement. The "reverse 911" system was also reportedly used to notify residents in the affected area to evacuate.

TriMet reportedly provided a bus for residents to sit in while NW Natural stopped the leak.

All residents were able to return to their homes just after 8 p.m., officials said.

NW Natural spokeswoman Melissa Moore told Patch on Tuesday the leak was caused accidentally by someone at a mobile home park.

Washington County Sheriff's spokesman Robert Rookhuyzen told OregonLive the rupture was caused when a resident on North Davis Court struck the gas line while mowing his lawn.

Photo Courtesy: Washington County Sheriff's Office