Alexandria is seeing an uptick in contractors striking gas lines, partly thanks to outdated utility maps.

At a meeting of the Alexandria Local Emergency Planning Committee (full disclosure, this reporter served on the committee) last week, Fire Marshal Russell Furr said there is a “higher than normal number of gas lines being struck.”

Furr said part of that is due to all the digging with the new broadband network project.

“Over the past month, there have been 20 or 30 utility tickets issued for contractors digging, and it’s only going to continue because that project is just now getting underway,” Furr said.

Furr noted that some of the maps do not line up with where the lines actually are, and some of them show incorrect depths on the gas lines.

“[Washington Gas] has even hit their own lines in the past,” Furr said.

Furr also noted that, as Ting Internet digs around Del Ray area, they’ve accidentally knocked out Verizon lines a few times.

A gas leak across from George Washington Middle School has shut down traffic along Mount Vernon Avenue.

Alexandria Fire Department spokesperson Raytevia Evans said there was a report of a gas leak on the 700 block of Mount Vernon Avenue. Scanner traffic indicated that the incident started around 1:30 p.m.

The work crew said the incident was caused when a gas line was struck across the street from the baseball field.

Police blocked off Mount Vernon Avenue from E. Braddock Road to E. Spring Avenue, with traffic diverted away from the gas leak.

H/t to Andrew Beaujon. James Cullum contributed to this story
Image via Google Maps

This week saw possibly the most contentious meeting between the City Council and School Board in years for a debate over School Resources Officers that ultimately culminated in the Council voting to temporarily restore the program. The reversal has been advocated by school officials and some parents, but was lamented by advocacy group Tenants and Workers United that saw it as a step-backward for racial justice.

The following day, ACPS was also hit with lockdowns at Alexandria City High School’s King Street and Minnie Howard campuses and Hammond Middle School, though police later said initial calls about a school shooting were unfounded. At the same time, a gas leak near Potomac Yard led to two homes being evacuated and the temporary closure of Richmond Highway.

Here are this week’s most-read stories.

Top Stories

1. Man injured and juvenile arrested after fight at the McDonald’s in Bradlee Shopping Center
2. In dramatic reversal, City Council brings back school resource officers to Alexandria City Public Schools
3. Planned bus rapid transit route from Alexandria to Tysons rolls ahead
4. Alexandria City High School on lockdown after anonymous threat
5. Police: Call about shooting at Hammond Middle School unfounded
6. City rethinks waterfront flood mitigation plans after seeing the price tag
7. Tenants and Workers United upset by City Council restoration of school resource officer program
8. City Council to consider swapping parking for ‘parklets’
9. Man attempts to steal $1,850 in merchandise from Restaurant Depot with discarded receipt
10. Project crowdsourcing Alexandria history aims to go nationwide next year

(Updated 1 p.m.) The Alexandria Fire Department evacuated homes near a construction site after an apparent gas leak at the 400 block of Calvert Avenue.

AFD Senior Public Information Officer Raytevia Evans said that had been closed Richmond Highway to northbound traffic at E. Glebe, but has since reopened. Calvert Avenue is closed, though the gas leak has been fixed.

Evans said two addresses with approximately 25-40 people were evacuated near the gas leak.

FINAL UPDATE (12:05pm): Calvert Avenue has reopened. The gas line has been fixed.

— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) October 14, 2021

Members currently operating at a 6" outside gas leak at a construction worksite located in the 400 block of Calvert Ave. Richmond Highway is closed at E. Glebe going North. Evacuating 2 addresses approximately 25-40 people. Washington Gas is on their way to the scene.

— IAFF Local 2141 (@IAFFLocal2141) October 14, 2021

🚨ALERT: The 400 block of Calvert Ave. is closed for a gas leak. Washington Gas is on scene. AFD is also on scene. Please avoid the area.@AlexandriaVAFD pic.twitter.com/Lm7oyArgOs

— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) October 14, 2021

Photo via Google Maps

(Updated at 1:20 p.m.) The Alexandria Police Department said a portion of King Street is closed due to a gas leak.

“The Alexandria Police Department is assisting the Fire Department with a road closure in the 2500 block of King Street due to a gas leak,” police said in a press release. “Expect police and fire activity in the area.”

The fire department said callers reported a gas line was hit by a contractor in someone’s yard. Homes near the scene were not evacuated.

The portion of the street that’s closed is near Taylor Run, just north of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

Image via Google Maps

(Updated at 9:40 a.m.) George Washington Middle School has again been evacuated after a report of a gas odor in the school’s auditorium.

The incident happened around 9 a.m. today (Thursday). Firefighters responded to the school to investigate the odor, but initial reports suggest nothing hazardous was found. Students were expected to return to classrooms after about 20-30 minutes outside in the cold.

It’s at least the third such evacuation since November. After the last evacuation, on Jan. 30, the school’s principal told parents that a faulty heating unit appeared to be to blame.

“The smell was caused by a rooftop heating unit that was installed in the summer and still requires some adjustments,” Principal Jesse Mazur wrote. “We are working with the contractors who installed these new units to resolve some of the ongoing issues we have been experiencing with them since November.”

GW Middle has also been dealing with other maintenance problems, including water quality issues. As ALXnow reported last week, testing revealed relatively high levels of copper and lead from a number of water outlets at the school. On Tuesday the school told families that it aerating, flushing and re-testing the water outlets, which were being kept off line during the process.

2/20/2020 9:29 a.m. George Washington Middle School cleared for re-entry following evacuation due to a smell of gas. Updates: https://t.co/SmBx3a2R2z

— Alexandria City Public Schools (@ACPSk12) February 20, 2020

(Updated at 10 a.m.) A suspected gas leak has prompted the evacuation of George Washington Middle School.

The school at 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue, near the Braddock Road Metro station, was evacuated shortly after 9:30 a.m. amid cool (45 degree) but sunny weather, due to an odor of natural gas inside the building. The fire alarm was said to be sounding as students walked out of the building.

Numerous Alexandria firefighters are on scene, investigating reports of a gas odor in the auditorium area, possibly coming from a rooftop heating unit, following reported heating problems in the building on Wednesday. Washington Gas is also responding to the scene.

First responders discussing letting students and staff back into an unaffected part of the building during the gas leak investigation, according to scanner traffic.

Update at 10:30 a.m. — Students have been let back into the middle school, according to ACPS.

11/21/2019 10:20 a.m. – GW Middle School has been cleared for safe re-entry by the fire department following a 30-minute evacuation due to the smell of gas. Students are resuming a normal schedule for the remainder of the day. Updates at https://t.co/SmBx3a2R2z

— Alexandria City Public Schools (@ACPSk12) November 21, 2019

Photo via Google Maps

Due to an emergency gas repair, Alexandria Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) announced on Twitter than a portion of the 1000 block of westbound King Street.

The block is between Patrick and Henry Streets, the north and southbound directions of Route 1 through Alexandria.

T&ES warned that drivers in Old Town near the closure should expect backups and seek alternate routes if possible.

TRAFFIC: Due to an emergency gas repair, a portion of the 1000 block of westbound King St. is closed. This is in between N/S Route 1, so be aware of backups and use alternate routes if possible.

— Alexandria T&ES (@AlexandriaVATES) November 14, 2019

Photo via Google Maps

A building has been evacuated in Potomac Yard after construction crews struck a large gas line.

The National Industries for the Blind building was evacuated and E. Glebe Road closed between Main Line Blvd and Potomac Avenue due to concerns about the escaping natural gas. Alexandria police and firefighters are on the scene, awaiting crews from Washington Gas to shut off the line.

A slight natural gas smell was also reported in the nearby Potomac Yard Target store, according to scanner traffic.

Employees are being allowed back into the NIB building, but those who do not feel comfortable doing so are being allowed to take unscheduled leave, we’re told.

Vernon Miles contributed to this report