Three manholes exploded yesterday afternoon on the 3200 block of M Street. Authorities closed the block to automotive and pedestrian traffic, causing major travel delays and driving detours for rush-hour drivers.
The explosions occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, Washington Gas and the Potomac Electric Power Co., along with the Metropolitan Police Department and D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene. No one was injured by the explosions.
D.C. Fire Public Information Officer Alan Etter said that it appeared a ruptured gas pipe caused a flame between six and eight inches high under a pipe in one of the manholes. Smoke poured from the other two manholes, though Etter said there were no other fires.
Pepco identified the leak and sealed a four-foot piece of pipe. Gas pressure was reduced, though it was not completely turned off. No serious damage was found.
“We have no idea what caused the rupture; it could have been anything,” Etter said. “There is construction going on in that area.”
A natural gas leak also caused the closure of two buildings on the block 3610 and 3618 M St. According to Etter, the buildings would remain evacuated because work was being done on potentially volitile pipes.
Etter said that there is no indication that the gas leak is spreading.
At approximately 6 p.m. another odor was reported-this time a gasoline odor-one block south of the exploding manholes, in front of the Patagonia store located at 1048 Wisconsin Ave. District firefighters walked down to inspect the cause of the odor.
Etter said the two leaks were not related. The second was caused by a snow blower which ruptured a gasoline tank.
These are not the first District manholes to have exploded in recent years. In February 2000, a series of manholes exploded in the D.C. area, including six on the 3100 block of M Street. An investigation found that those explosions were caused by decrepit underground utility lines.
Pepco is currently completing a $40 million project which will replace its entire underground system in the Georgetown area.
