Local
About 400 D.C. homes without heat after gas pipe fails in NW
By: Luke Reiter
Special to The Examiner
November 20, 2008
One day after the District saw its first snowflakes of the season, many residents found their homes without heat.
The Red Cross was working Wednesday to help people living in approximately 400 homes in the Shaw neighborhood in Northwest Washington who were left without heat after a gas pipe failure.
A spokesman for Washington Gas said the problem was caused by a closed valve. The incident was under investigation.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the utility did not have a time frame for heat to be restored to the affected homes. Service was halted to allow repairmen safe access to equipment, and now repairmen must go to each house affected to reignite pilot lights. In the meantime, a “warming center” has been established at the Kennedy Center for those affected, and Washington Gas set up a mobile command center on the corner of 10th and R streets NW.
Washington Gas is urging residents to be especially cautious during this period and report any indication of leaking gas. Residents relying on space heaters as substitutes should be cautious for fire hazards.
The Red Cross was working Wednesday to help people living in approximately 400 homes in the Shaw neighborhood in Northwest Washington who were left without heat after a gas pipe failure.
A spokesman for Washington Gas said the problem was caused by a closed valve. The incident was under investigation.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the utility did not have a time frame for heat to be restored to the affected homes. Service was halted to allow repairmen safe access to equipment, and now repairmen must go to each house affected to reignite pilot lights. In the meantime, a “warming center” has been established at the Kennedy Center for those affected, and Washington Gas set up a mobile command center on the corner of 10th and R streets NW.
Washington Gas is urging residents to be especially cautious during this period and report any indication of leaking gas. Residents relying on space heaters as substitutes should be cautious for fire hazards.
