El Cajon
El Cajon Fire Department officials and county hazardous materials handlers sealed manhole covers and posted guards next to sewer drains near Main Street in El Cajon after a gasoline leak into a sewer threatened an explosion.
Fire Chief Richard Hardy said the leak was traced to the Thrifty gas station at Main and Douglas streets. Although the leaking underground pipe was repaired Wednesday, “many gallons” of gasoline had seeped into the sewer, he said. “At this point we’re worried about an ignition source getting to the gasoline.”
Apartment residents in the area, bordered on the south by Main Street and by Interstate 8 on the north, began complaining of gasoline fumes on Monday, Hardy said.
A hazardous materials clean-up crew hired by Thrifty Oil Co. had begun cleaning up the fuel Wednesday afternoon, he said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
