Updated 2:27 p.m. Tuesday
According to the Pitkin County Sheriff, the gas leak in Snowmass base village has been stopped. It is safe to return to the base village and surrounding area.
Updated 1:07 p.m. Tuesday
Snowmass Village Police have cleared the evacuation area and have reopened the base village, the department said on Twitter. Carriage way is open. Black Hills Energy has stopped the gas leak and is still working on repairs. Earlier estimates indicated that the repairs would be completed by 2 p.m.
Updated 12:48 p.m. Tuesday
Black Hills Energy crews have stopped the gas leak, according to a tweet from the Snowmass Village Police Department. The evacuation area remains closed until "gas levels dissipate and hazards are mitigated."
Updated 12:12 p.m. Tuesday
Black Hills Energy still does not know the root cause of the gas leak, according to a spokesperson for the company. As part of the repair process, personnel are using equipment to expose the line and isolate the downstream leak.
The leak was first reported around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday when Black Hills Energy received a call from someone who alerted them to a gas smell.
Updated 12:05 p.m. Tuesday
People with cars in the Snowmass base village parking garage are now allowed to access their cars and exit the garage, according to the Snowmass Village Police Department.
Updated 11:53 a.m Tuesday
The Town of Snowmass Village has issued this map of the base village evacuation area. According to a press release, those who were evacuated and need to access the evacuated area can do so via the check-in and check-out area at the entrance to the parking garage.
Updated 11:12 a.m. Tuesday
Approximately 175 people were asked to leave the area of the gas leak, according to a press release issued by the town of Snowmass Village. The gas leak is located near the Treehouse parking lot and is still active, although it is not expected to expand.
Black Hills Energy personnel are on scene and working on repairs, which will require substantial excavation work and may take until early afternoon.
The Snowmass Village Police Department will notify properties as soon as it is safe to return to the area. Carriage Way is closed from Wood Road up to Daly Lane at the Snowmass Mall.
All base village properties, including the Limelight Hotel, Capitol Peak, Hayden Lodge, Lichenhearth and Tamarack properties have been evacuated. Roaring Fork Fire Rescue, Pitkin County Sheriff, Basalt Police Department, town staff, and the Snowmass Village Police Department personnel are on scene and monitoring the gas levels in the area.
Updated 11:00 a.m. Tuesday
Evacuations in Snowmass base village have been completed, and police do not expect any further evacuations to take place, according to Snowmass Village police chief Brian Olson.
Updated 10:52 a.m. Tuesday
Black Hills Energy is estimating a resolution to the gas leak situation at 2 p.m. today, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff.
Updated 10:25 a.m. Tuesday
Black Hills Energy is on the scene and working on repairing the gas leak, according to the Snowmass Village Police Department. There is no definitive time that repairs will be finalized, but police estimate that repairs could be made by early afternoon.
9:20 a.m. Tuesday
Properties in Snowmass Base Village are being ordered to evacuate due to a gas leak, according to a release from Pitkin County around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday.
People should not start cars in the parking garages.
Those on the east side of Base Village, Limelight and Building 7 areas should proceed east to the Viceroy hotel via the fire lane. Residents on the west side of Base Village, Tamarack and Lichenhearth areas are to proceed uphill on Carriage Way.
This is a breaking news story and details will be added as they become available.
