UPDATED | Germantown Homes Evacuated Due to Gas Line Breach

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.—Fire and rescue officials said more than 200 homes were affected by a gas leak in Germantown on Thursday.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Scott Graham said in a tweet that residents of 241 homes were told to leave or to “shelter in place” after a 12-inch gas line broke. 

As of 1:30 p.m. several roads remained closed, according to Montgomery County police.

People who live in the neighborhood are not being allowed back into their homes until the evacuation order has been lifted, Montgomery County police spokesowman Rebecca Innocenti said.

Washington Gas estimated it would take 1 to 2 hours to "clamp off the leak," Graham said in a tweet posted at around 1:45 p.m. 

If gas were shut down, Graham said, 70 homes would be affected for an unknown amount of time.

(Original) Homes around Brandermill Drive in Germantown were evacuated Thursday morning due to a broken 12-inch gas line, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service officials.

Residences near Brandermill Drive, from Scenery Drive to Frederick Road, were being evacuated, Asst. Chief Scott Graham said. 

Montgomery County police said the call came in around 10:45 a.m.

Roads in the area have been shut down, police said.