Gas leak in Oregon City has 50 evacuated, crews on alert

Crews are attending to a natural gas leak at 320 Warner Milne Road in Oregon City, south of Molalla Avenue near the courthouse and other government offices.

KATU has received reports that a 4-inch steel natural gas line is 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. Local businesses on a three-block stretch of Warner Milne road have been evacuated, including Biaggi's Restaurant, the Oregon City police station, a church and a few residences. As many as 50 people were displaced as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The leak was caused during construction, McAdoo said.

"They're replacing all kinds of utilities on Warner Milne, and construction crews accidentally hit the pipe," he said.

NW Natural has mini-rigs there to try to tap the source of the leak.

"But it's still spewing at this time," McAdoo told KATU at 10:34 a.m. Wednesday. "The last air-quality test we did showed high, high concentrations of gas in the air"

Traffic is being controlled by Oregon City police, and Gladstone Fire crews are assisting.

"We've circled the area to keep people out," McAdoo said.