All clear: Mandatory evacuation lifted in Memorial Boulevard area due to gas leak

After authorities evacuated Bester Elementary School and the surrounding neighborhood when a construction crew struck a natural gas line along Tuesday afternoon, the all clear was given.

The evacuation of several blocks in Hagerstown's South End is estimated to have affected about 1,000 people, according to a City of Hagerstown Facebook post. Officials used hazardous materials mapping software and current weather conditions to determine the evacuation area, the post states.

"Crews continue to monitor the area of the leak for a flammable atmosphere," the city's social media post states.

The city reported shortly after 6:30 p.m. that the "all clear" sign had been given and the mandatory evacuation was lifted. That followed another update that gas valves at the scene had been closed and Columbia Gas was waiting for gas in pipes to dissipate before the area could be re-opened.

The city said Tuesday night that Memorial Boulevard between Potomac Street and Maryland Avenue will be temporarily closed until Columbia Gas completes repair work.

Columbia Gas of Maryland spokesperson Russell Bedell said crews are expected to work late Tuesday night to repair the damaged main line. Until those repairs are complete, four customers are without gas service, he said.

The incident was reported at 12:45 p.m. on property across from a city public works office near West Memorial Boulevard and South Potomac Street, the supervisor said.

Hagerstown Fire Department Battalion Chief Russ Grim said the valve struck was a high-pressure gas line. He said the worst case scenario would be that the wind does not pick up and the gas sits in the neighborhood.

Columbia Gas arrived and advised Hagerstown Fire authorities it was likely the neighborhood could remain evacuated for five hours, Grim said around 2:30 p.m. Those who were able to evacuate were being asked to leave; those who couldn't were being told to shelter in place.

Areas near Bester being evacuated

Hagerstown Fire Department Battalion Chief Russ Grim said streets near the gas leak were evacuated. They included:

• South Potomac Street from Locust Point to Garlinger Avenue.

• Garlinger Avenue west to Chestnut Street.

• Chestnut Street to Reynolds Avenue, including the doctor’s office.

• Maryland Avenue from Garlinger Avenue, onto West Memorial Boulevard up to Surrey Avenue.

Hagerstown Fire Department Battalion Chief Adam Hopkins said Bester Elementary was being evacuated around 2 p.m. and that the fire department was moving its command center from the parking area near the city's community gardens to further down South Potomac Street.

The students were being taken to Hager Park, across Frederick Street, where police officers were helping to keep everyone safe. Washington County Public Schools spokesman Joe Copenhaver said the district is preparing an off-site dismissal point for the students.

Parents are receiving instructions by phone, email and text message, Copenhaver said.

There are roughly 430 students enrolled at Bester, officials have said.

In addition to Hagerstown Fire and Police departments, the Washington County Department of Emergency Services and its mobile command center arrived to assist.

What caused the gas leak?

Authorities are still piecing together what happened to cause the leak, Grim said at the command center on South Potomac. He said a work crew installing a pole drilled into the line on the east side of the railroad tracks.

Bedell said the main gas line was damaged by a contractor doing work — it was not Columbia Gas.

A city spokesman was not able to immediately identify what company had the permit to be working in that area.

Wait, wasn't Bester Elementary just evacuated last week?

Students were evacuated from the school one week earlier because of a fire in a second-floor bathroom. The small blaze caused the school's sprinklers to activate, and water gushed from the upper floor to the first floor.

The city fire marshal's office ruled the fire arson and charges were to be filed against a juvenile suspect in the incident.

More:Bester Elementary to remain closed Wednesday after water damage from small fire

Intentionally set:Hagerstown Fire Department concludes Bester Elementary fire was result of arson

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Natural gas leak in Hagerstown forced mandatory evacuations