Gas Main Punctured
Construction workers punctured a high-pressure natural gas main in Van Nuys on Monday, forcing the evacuation of about 300 people from businesses in the area, Los Angeles fire officials said.
The accident occurred on Sepulveda Boulevard near Oxnard Street shortly after 3 p.m., said Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells. About 30 firefighters were sent to the scene.
A construction company digging in the area “broke our six-inch steel gas main, causing gas to blow into the atmosphere,” said Mabel Solares, spokeswoman for the Southern California Gas Co. The construction company was not affiliated with the gas company.
Employees from eight offices and businesses were asked to leave the area as a precaution, Wells said. There were no injuries.
Police blocked off the southbound lanes of Sepulveda from Oxnard north to Erwin Street while workers attempted to repair the main. By 5 p.m., workers had stopped the leak. The lanes were reopened at 6:30 p.m.
Police and gas company officials could not confirm the name of the construction company or the type of work being done.
“There’s a lot to determine,” Solares said.
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