Homes in Twinbrook Evacuated for Natural Gas Leak

Several homes in the Twinbrook neighborhood of Rockville were evacuated as county fire units investigated a natural gas leak on Thursday night.

County fire and rescue received a call around 9:30 p.m. for the odor of gas in an unoccupied home at 5703 Stillwell Road, said Capt. Oscar Garcia, a county fire and rescue service spokesman.

Firefighters detected a natural gas leak at the home and called for additional units to help check neighboring residences. They included an unoccupied home at 5701 Stillwell Road and a home with two occupants at 5705 Stillwell Road, which was one of about five homes evacuated on Stillwell and Denfield roads, Garcia said.

“So far [there is] no gas reading in any of the houses except the initial house—5703 [Stillwell Road],” Garcia said at about 10:20 p.m.

There were no injuries or exposure to gas reported, he said.

Washington Gas shut off the gas meter at 5703 Stillwell Road and fire units were using exhaust fans to clear the air, Garcia said. Fire officials will work with the gas company to investigate the cause of the leak.

Occupants of the evacuated homes will be allowed to go back inside shortly, Garcia said.