Gas line explosion in Bellevue sends two to Harborview | Plumbers were working at commercial building

Published 12:08 pm Thursday, June 18, 2015

Two plumbers working on a commercial building on the 14300 block of Southeast Eastgate Way were rushed to Harborview Medical Center with severe burns after they accidentally struck a gas line that exploded and caught the structure on fire.

Bellevue Fire Lt. Rich Burke said the explosion occurred around 9:15 a.m., and more than four engines responded. Police had Eastgate Way blocked from the park and ride past the commercial building for about two hours.

A county worker in the area when the fire occurred told the Reporter one victim was burned so badly their orange vest had melted to their skin. The entire building is under major construction, and many contractors had to evacuate to an adjacent staging site.