As of 1:57 p.m., five emergency units started rolling to 1823 Terry Avenue to deal with a natural gas leak. A tipster says nearby buildings are being evacuated, so they must not have gotten it dealt with yet. If you're in the area, don't smoke! UPDATE: We hear they haven't managed to get the gas line shut off yet, so this may take a while. Sounds like Stewart is closed between 9th and Boren. UPDATE: And they're un-evacuating. Whew! However, the street is still closed, and emergency crews are still bustling about. UPDATE: Stewart is open again! more ›

One of the most important lessons we learned in Driver's Ed was: "Avoid breaking natural gas lines; it won't be pretty should you happen to crash into one." Early this morning, around 4:20 a.m., a 19-year-old female in a pick-up truck drove into such a gas line on Highway 164 by SE 380th (out by Auburn). The highway is currently closed (good morning, traffic!), and KOMO says the driver is being investigated for drunk driving. If she was driving inebriated, the woman forgot the other most important lesson we learned in Driver's Ed: "Sleep in your car, goddammit. Driving drunk is not okay." Seattlest hopes everything works out for the driver and for Highway 164, which does see a lot of traffic. It would be a pain if WSDOT had to keep it shut down much longer for repairs. more ›

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is facing the largest state fine ever given to a natural gas distributor. State regulators announced the $1.25 million fine Thursday, for falsifying safety and maintenance records. The Utilities and Trade Commission (UTC), which oversees the state's natural gas distributors, found 209 violations where a PSE sub-contractor had altered or falsified maintenance records regarding "phantom leaks." more ›

A Lakewood, Wash., 17-year-old and her infant son are lucky to be alive after a natural gas explosion blew their home off its foundation Wednesday afternoon. Around 3 p.m., Kristine Manues came home and noticed the smell of gas, so she went to a neighbor's house. Within five minutes of leaving her home, infant in her arms, an explosion rocked the neighborhood. more ›