UPDATE- Whitman County natural gas outage

PULLMAN- Avista provided an update today, Friday, Nov. 10, regarding restoring natural gas services to an estimated 37,000 natural gas customers in the Pullman Moscow Region and Lewiston Clarkston Region.

Senior Communications Manager for Avista, Jared Webley, said that they've had the help of over 400 crew members and over eight partner utilities across the state in going home to home to relight natural gas appliances.

"Some of the messaging we are emphasizing over and over is asking the customers not to turn on their gas," Webley said, noting that customers impacted should not turn on the gas themselves, light the pilot light under any circumstances, or use outdoor grills. "All of our efforts are really focused on restoration.

According to reports, the natural gas pipeline ruptured, causing a gas leak that caused US 195 to be closed between the intersection of US 195 and Albion Road to Pullman on Wednesday, Nov. 8, it was repaired by Williams Pipeline yesterday, Thursday, Nov. 9.

Reports say that the repair means Avista Utilities can start relighting.

Reports say Avista Utilities hopes to begin the process today, Friday, Nov. 10, and should take three to five days.

Reports state that an excavator struck the gas line about 1 mile south of Carothers Road at milepost 27 at approximately 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday, causing a leak.

Travelers were detoured through Albion between Pullman and Colfax.

Responders stated that the highway was to be closed until at least 3 p.m. yesterday. The highway is now open.

The gas line has been shut off, and the remaining leakage is closely monitored.

Local agencies, including Pullman Fire Dist. 12 and Albion Fire Department, are monitoring the situation along with the pipeline's owner's staff.