Gas leak in Ballard causes evacuations at senior apartments

SEATTLE — Firefighters responded to a natural gas leak that caused evacuations at a Ballard senior apartment building.

Firefighters were called to the building at 5433 Leary Avenue Northwest at 8:16 a.m. Tuesday.

There was an odor of natural gas in the lobby.

Residents were being evacuated onto Metro buses.

Puget Sound Energy responded and the gas was shut off at the meter.

Seattle fire said the odor was caused by gas flowing from an unlit pilot light at a nearby sushi restaurant, causing an overnight buildup of gas.

Leary Way Northwest is closed from Northeast Market Street to Northwest Vernon Place.

Cox Media Group