Gas Leak Closes Portion of Quince Orchard Road and Forces Evacuations in Kentlands

UPDATED 8 p.m -Officials report that Quince Orchard Road has reopened and the gas leak has been capped.

ORIGINAL POST- Montgomery County firefighters are on the scene of a high pressure, gas line leak in the 100 block of Ridgepoint Place in the Kentlands community of Gaithersburg.

Fire and Rescue Spokesperson Pete Piringer said the four-inch natural gas line was struck by a backhoe.

According to Piringer, several homes are being evacuated as a precaution and Quince Orchard Road, between Kentlands Boulevard and Hillstone Drive, has been closed in both directions.

The gas company is now on the scene, Piringer said.

Update – Gaithersburg hazmat on Ridgepoint Place, Kentlams, under control, gas company has leak stopped, #MCFRS clearing scene shortly

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 24, 2014

Quince Orchard Road has reopened from the earlier gas leak

— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) November 24, 2014

Traffic advisory – both directions Quince Orchard Road between Kentlands Blvd and Hillstone Dr., Gaithersburg, due to FT activity

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 24, 2014

Update – Gburg hazmat & gas leak, several homes have been evacuated & area roads have been closed as precaution, gas company on the scene

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 24, 2014

Update GBurg – #mcfrs hazmat 4 inch high-pressure gas line struck by Backhoe, active leak, evacuations taking place, no fire

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 24, 2014

About Sonya Burke

Sonya Burke is the Multimedia Manager at Montgomery Community Media (MCM). You can email story ideas at sburke@mymcmedia.org or reach her on Twitter @SonyaNBurke.

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