Gas Leak Forces Evacuation at GMU

A natural gas leak forced students and staff at George Mason University to evacuate three campus buildings Wednesday morning.

Public Information Officer George Ginovsky said a construction crew outside Northern Neck, a dormitory, broke a natural gas line around 11:09 a.m.  After University Police and local fire responded to the scene,  the university alert system told students and staff to evacuate Northern Neck,  along with the nearby Chesapeake Module and The Lecture Hall.

Washington Gas and Electric responded and capped off the gas line, Ginovsky said.

At 12:20 p.m., the area was declared safe, Ginovsky said. Students and staff were able to return to the buildings, and all three buildings will remain open and safe, he said.

Click here for video from the scene and additional information courtesy of GMU's student news site Connect2Mason.com.