Major Gas Leak Evacuates Restaurants and Hundreds in Montgomery County

On Friday evening, a significant gas leak in Bethesda led to the evacuation of several restaurants and approximately 300 people, as per Montgomery County Fire & Rescue. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Norfolk Avenue and Cordell Avenue, forcing the closure of Norfolk Avenue between Delray Avenue and St. Elmo Avenue. The area affected included multiple restaurants and their outdoor seating, along with stores. The gas company was promptly on the scene to evaluate high meter readings and identify the source of the leak, stated MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer. Fortunately, there were no fires or injuries reported related to the event.