Gas Leak Causes Hundreds Of College Students To Evacuate

GERMANTOWN, MD — Hundreds of students were evacuated from their classes at Montgomery College after a high-pressure gas line burst on the Germantown campus Monday morning, authorities said.

Spokesman Pete Piringer said a 4-inch high-pressure natural gas line broke in front of the science building. Officials evacuated about six buildings, including the child care center, as a precaution.

About 45 firefighters and a HAZMAT team were called to the IAO Science Building for the report of a gas leak and odor throughout the area at about 9:45 a.m., Piringer said. The gas was controlled by about 11 a.m., Piringer said.

No one was injured.

The campus at 20200 Observation Drive will be closed Monday until further notice, the school said.

Photos: Pete Piringer/Montgomery County Fire & EMS