Seattle Gas Leak Prompts Some Evacuations In Central District

© Seattle Department of Transportation

SEATTLE — Firefighters and utility crews worked to extinguish a vault fire and secure a gas leak after a line caught fire and melted through parts of a sidewalk in the Central District on Wednesday. The Seattle Fire Department's vault response team responded to the 2700 block of East Cherry Street around 11: 15 a.m.

Firefighters evacuated buildings in the area and City Light crews turned off power in the area as Puget Sound Energy moved to shut off the gas. According to the Seattle Fire Department, the evacuation zone included several blocks around Gerber Park. Full road closures were in place for two blocks in each direction from East Cherry Street and MLK Jr. Way.