Stores Evacuated After Gas Leak Broken Natural Gas Pipe Plugged By Crews In Valley

A natural gas pipe broke behind a Spokane Valley television store Tuesday afternoon, causing several businesses to be evacuated while Washington Water Power Co. workers plugged the leak.

No one was hurt when someone broke a gas meter behind BJ’s TV and Stereo, 15526 E. Sprague, about 3:50 p.m.

Within a half-hour, WWP employees had pounded a wooden plug into the end of the broken pipe, said Mark Grover, Valley Fire District battalion chief.

Valley fire officials said they aren’t investigating the break.

BJ’s owner Bruce Sterling said he had heard a young man was climbing around the back of the store earlier in the afternoon.

When the gas pipe broke, “we heard a heck of a bang,” he said.

Sterling called 911 from the store and evacuated the two other people and a dog that were inside.

State troopers, sheriff’s deputies and fire crews blocked areas near BJ’s in the parking lot and stopped northbound traffic on Sullivan.

The building, on the southwest corner of Sprague and Sullivan, also houses SherDonee’s Salon and a Rosauers supermarket, both of whose employees and customers also were evacuated.

Saks Family Restaurant, which is north of the building, also was evacuated.

As a strong wind blew north, workers at those businesses huddled in the parking lot, waiting for word to return inside.

They were allowed to go back in about 4:45 p.m.