Tarzana Gas Leak Causes 10-Hr. Exodus

More than 750 people were allowed back into their homes and apartments today after a rupture in a natural gas line that forced the evacuation of a San Fernando Valley neighborhood for about 10 1/2 hours, Los Angeles fire officials said.

Residents of a dozen houses, two large apartment buildings and a nursing home were ordered out of the area of Burbank Boulevard and Lindley Avenue in Tarzana about 9 p.m. Monday when a 36-inch high-pressure line in the middle of the intersection ruptured.

Southern California Gas Co. workers discovered the source of the leak at 4:45 a.m. today and shut off the flow of gas. Residents were allowed to return home from a Red Cross evacuation center in the Reseda High School gymnasium three hours later.

Fire officials said there were no reports of ill effects from the gas fumes.

The leak apparently occurred where a 2-inch, 10-foot-long valve connects to the 36-inch main under the pavement. The main may have ruptured during road repaving, Kenneth B. Worthem, district manager of the gas company, said. Work to repair the main was expected to be completed later today, he said. “This is the busiest intersection in the San Fernando Valley system,” Worthem said. “It couldn’t have happened in a worse place.”