SE Austin Gas Line Break Prompts Evacuations, Street Closures

EAST AUSTIN, TEXAS — Firefighters responded to a gas line rupture in southeast Austin on Thursday morning in what is the second such break in as many days in Austin.

Fire crews responded to 6605 Felix Avenue at Vargas Road where a contractor crew inadvertently struck a four-inch gas line at around 11 a.m., officials said. The gas line break prompted the evacuation of eight residents at three houses adjacent to the gas line rupture, fire officials said. Moreover, Felix Avenue was shut down between Vargas Road and Richardson Lane along with Montopolis Drive until the situation is mitigated, fire officials said.

Texas Gas Service utility crews also were on scene alongside firefighters to seal the ruptured line and ventilate the area, officials noted. No injuries were reported.

By around 2:30 p.m., fire officials in an update said the leak had been mitigated, with final monitoring being conducted. Residents were expected to be allowed back into their homes and road closures would be lifted later on Thursday afternoon, officials added.

This marks the second time is as many days that a gas line has been ruptured in Austin, leading to evacuations and road closures. On Wednesday afternoon, a gas line was ruptured at the Post West Austin apartment complex on 4316 Bull Creek Rd. at around 3 p.m., according to Austin Fire Department officials. Well into the evening, Bull Creek Road remain closed between 42nd and 44th streets as a result of the break even as residents were allowed back into their homes by late afternoon after the line was clamped.

Related stories:

Gas Leak Prompts Evacuation At Downtown Austin Apartments

Downtown Austin Gas Line Rupture Spurs Evacuation

Work Crews Accidentally Rupture Gas Line In East Austin

Gas Line Rupture Prompts 4-Block Street Closing, Evacuations

Gas Line Rupture Prompts Traffic Detours At I-35, Between William Cannon And Stassney: Austin Police

While the surroundings at each gas line break aren't clear, such incidents increasingly occur in cities such as Austin experiencing brisk growth. Housing units continue to be built throughout Austin to accommodate a daily influx of new residents as evidenced by construction sites that now dot the landscape across the city.

Sometimes, in the midst of such frenzied construction activity, accidents happen and gas lines are ruptured. And it's hardly the first time a gas line break has happened amid such brisk construction activity:

• In April, a two-inch gas line was struck and starting leaking gas at a construction site at 4517 Triangle Ave., prompting evacuations of residents living in and adjacent building. The rupture occurred in a part of the city known as The Triangle — something of a ground zero of gentrification as developers rush to build luxury housing for an influx of new residents lured to the strong economy. The 22-acre urban complex north of the UT-Austin campus is located is located where Guadalupe Street and Lamar Blvd.
• Less than two weeks later in East Austin, Austin Fire Department crews were joined by members of a Hazmat task force at the gas leak that occurred just before 2 p.m. along the 6600 block of Ed Bluestein Boulevard near Loyola Lane. Texas Gas Service utility officials said a contractor's crew inadvertently struck and damaged a pipe six inches in diameter during digging at the site. The rupture prompted closure of Loyola Lane from Millrace Drive to Ed Bluestein Boulevard. Loyola Lane was reopened shortly before 9 p.m. on a Saturday, utility officials said. Austin fire officials said no evacuations were necessary during the repair work.
• In February 2017, utility crews rushed to a work site toward repairing a ruptured gas line struck in East Austin, prompting the blocking off of several city blocks. The affected area on Comal Street prompted utility crews to close the artery from 4th to 7th streets as repairs were made made. Residents living at The Arnold Apartments at 1621 E. 6th St. were forced to leave their homes to avoid inhaling the fumes.The rupture occurred when a construction crew hit a four-inch gas line, officials said at the time.
• In July 2016, traffic delays of up to five hours occurred along Interstate 35 between William Cannon and Stassney Lane after work crews struck a gas line there. A spokeswoman for Texas Gas Service told Patch at the time that a contractor working in the area had accidentally struck a natural gas line at the site.

Coincidentally, Texas Gas Service officials on Wednesday posted a brochure guiding residents on what to do in the event of a natural gas leak. The primer containing important safety tips is available via a link on their utility's tweeted guide:

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