At 5:23 pm Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a natural gas investigation at a vacant house at 1682 SW Maplecrest Drive. The crew from Station 18 (Multnomah Village) arrived at 5:29 pm and called for additional resources after assessing the situation with NW Natural, who was already on scene.  NW Natural responded to the scene after receiving a tip from a passing bicyclist of an odor in the area. They arrived and shut the gas off at 5:10 pm and called for fire crews because the house was still charged with residual natural gas.

Engine 18 stretched a hose line to the house while another fire crew established a water supply and a third crew staffed a back up hose line. The power company arrived and shut off power to the house at 6:05 pm. Fire crews were then able to make entry, monitor the gas reading and ventilate the structure.

No evacuations were necessary due to the distance of the house from adjacent homes. The situation was brought under control at 6:22 pm.

In addition, at 8:16 pm Portland Fire & Rescue responded to SE 3rd and Belmont to report of natural gas leaking from a meter. The crew from Station 21 (Eastbank/Hawthorne) arrived at 8:20 pm and was able to shut the leak off while additional fire crews pulled hose lines for protection. The incident was brought under control at 8:33 pm. No injuries were reported in this incident.

Portland Fire & Rescue and NW Natural would like to remind citizens that when you smell an odor of natural gas, leave the area on foot and call 911 or the NW Natural Odor Tip Line at (800) 882-3377. Also, please remember to always call 811 before you dig.

Contact info, for media use only:
Public Information Officer AJ Schaffer, Media Pager (503) 940-6003.