(Updated at 1:30 p.m.) An 8-inch natural gas line was ruptured near Westfield High School this morning (Wednesday), forcing a closure of Willard Road in Chantilly.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responders, including a hazmat team, were dispatched to the 14800 block of Willard Road around 10:26 a.m. for a “hazardous material emergency,” according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.
There was “a significant leak” that would require a shutdown of both sides of Willard between Lee Road and Stonecroft Blvd, according to responders on the scene.
A hazmat worker said at 10:54 a.m. that the nearby CARSTAR Centreville Collision Center was evacuated after workers reported an odor, per the scanner. The worker later told the dispatcher that “no abnormal readings” were detected in the auto shop.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department initially said a 2-inch line had been struck, but after arriving at the scene, Washington Gas workers determined that the affected line was 8 inches wide.
An FCFRD spokesperson told FFXnow no other details about the cause of the struck gas line were available, as of 12:42 p.m.
The damage was caused by a third party, but there’s “no confirmation that it was from construction,” a Washington Gas spokesperson says.
“Crews on site shut gas off just after noon,” Washington Gas said. “No estimate has been given on repairs.”
The fire department said its units “will be on scene for an undetermined amount of time.” Community members are advised to find alternate travel routes.
UPDATE: @washingtongas is on scene. After further investigation they discovered an 8-inch gas line struck. #FCFRD will be on scene for an undetermined amount of time.
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) February 7, 2024
