Construction workers building a residential community broke a 4-inch gas line Tuesday, March 2, at approximately 1 p.m. The construction site is directly across from Herndon High School on Bennett Street.
"When they're building a development across the way you've got to figure they'll cut the gas lines and the water lines at some point," said Janice Leslie, Herndon High principal. "We basically had a fire drill."
The disruption to the school was minimal, said Leslie. The school buses had to use a different route and students walking on foot were directed to not walk near the site, said Paul Regnier, the community relations coordinator for Fairfax County Public Schools.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Hazardous Material squad responded and determined no evacuations were necessary, said Dan Schmidt, director of public information office for the fire department. However, nine construction workers were treated at the scene for gas inhalation and there were no reported injuries. Washington Gas has contained the leak and cut off the gas by 1:45 p.m.