Gas leak forces Downtown offices to evacuate
KREM Staff and Ryan Simms, KREM.com 7:42 p.m. PDT August 31, 2015
(Photo: KREM.com)
SPOKANE, Wash.—A gas leak closed several Downtown Spokane streets Monday. Policed blocked Sprague and Monroe in the afternoon when construction workers cut into a 12 inch gas pipe.
Police evacuated seven buildings in the area including the Spokesman Review offices forcing about 500 people outside.
A gas leak forced people to evacuate parts of Downtown Spokane for hours... but just minutes ago they got word they can return
Police diverted traffic away from this area. Around 7:40 p.m. Monday, authorities opened Monroe going southbound, but it is still restricted to one lane. Sprague remains closed between Lincoln and Madison, and police said it is antiicpated they remained closed for a few more hours.
Authorities on the scene around 4:00 p.m. said it could take as long as a day to make repairs. Workers must weld a new pipe which will take time.