Operator Rescued After Crane Fire and Gas Leak on Seattle’s Queen Anne
Updated (3 articles)
Lift Contacts Power Lines, Igniting Fire and Gas Pipe At about 9 a.m. on February 19, a cherry‑picker on Queen Anne Ave N struck Seattle City Light overhead lines, sparking a blaze that quickly reached a natural‑gas pipe beneath the sidewalk, intensifying the fire throughout the afternoon [1].
Operator Remains Inside Vehicle for Two Hours The lift’s operator stayed inside the cab until crews de‑energized the lines at roughly 11 a.m.; firefighters then used an aerial ladder to lower the worker to safety, and he emerged unharmed [1].
Power Outage Impacts Over Five Hundred Customers Seattle City Light isolated the energized wires, leaving approximately 525 customers without electricity from 9 a.m. until power was restored later in the day [1].
Utility Crews Dig Trenches to Shut Off Gas Flow Puget Sound Energy opened three access points along Queen Anne Ave N and Highland Dr. to reach the underground gas line, successfully stopping the leak while the fire continued to burn [1].
Apartment Building Evacuated, Residents Return by Evening Gas detectors triggered inside a nearby apartment complex, prompting evacuation; officials planned to allow occupants back in early evening after the gas line was secured and the building ventilated [1].
Three Specialized Fire Teams Deploy to Unprecedented Scene An energy‑response team, a rescue company, and a hazmat unit responded, with fire officials noting the combination of lift fire, power‑line contact, and gas leak as the first of its kind in the department’s seven‑year history [1].
Timeline
Dec 11, 2025 – A construction crew striking an underground gas line at 7:35 a.m. in Ashland (adjacent to Hayward) triggers a leak that PG&E isolates at 9:25 a.m.; the gas continues to escape and detonates ten minutes later, destroying a home and damaging three other structures, while six people are hospitalized with varying injuries; Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Nishimoto says he “does not know at this time whether the injured are construction workers or residents,” underscoring the uncertainty of the casualty count[1].
Jan 6‑7, 2026 – Before 5 a.m. on Jan 6, a Seattle construction crew hits a gas line at Eastlake Ave E & E Roanoke St, prompting fire crews and police to secure the area, issue detours, and close the road; after nearly a full day of trenching and safety checks, the roadway reopens just before 1 a.m. on Jan 7, with officials noting the story remains “developing” and promising further updates[3].
Feb 18‑19, 2026 – Around 9 a.m. on Feb 18, a cherry picker on Queen Anne Ave N contacts overhead power lines, sparking a lift fire that spreads to a buried natural‑gas pipe and fuels flames into the afternoon; the operator stays trapped for two hours until Seattle City Light de‑energizes the lines at 11 a.m., after which firefighters rescue him unharmed; about 525 customers lose electricity, Puget Sound Energy digs three trenches to shut off the gas, and a nearby apartment is evacuated with residents expected to return by evening; fire officials label the combination of lift fire, power line, and gas leak “the first of its kind” in the department’s seven‑year history[2].