Ten Homes Evacuated as PG&E Closes Off Gas Line Rupture

UPDATE:

4:00 p.m.

PG&E crews were able to stop the flow of gas in a punctured natural gas main on Lancaster Avenue in Kentfield around 3:14 p.m., said PG&E spokesperson Katie Romans.

It took crews five-and-a-half hours from when a contracted crew accidentally punctured the line to shut off the leak, said Romans, because additional crews had to be brought in to weld a steel fitting close. 

Typically, crews dig down on either side of a gas leak and clamp the pipe down on each side of the puncture. But, in this instance, one side had to be welded close with a steel fitting, which required bringing in additional manpower.

Though there is not a measure of how much gas may have escaped, said Romans, the line is a low-pressure distribution main just 1.25-inches wide, so not as much gas would have been released as with a high-pressure line. 

The Kentfield Fire Protection District has declared the scene safe and the evacuated people have now been allowed to return to their homes. Additionally, both fire officials and PG&E said they received no reports of anyone feeling ill during the gas leak. 

Seven homes will remain without gas service through the evening until PG&E is able to complete repairs.

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12:01 p.m.

Ten homes have been evacuated near Lancaster and McAllister Avenues in Kentfield and one road shut down as PG&E crews attempt to repair a gas leak, said PG&E spokesperson Katie Romans.

A PG&E-contracted construction crew was doing work on a new line running off the main gas line in the area this morning when they damaged a 1.25-inch plastic gas main around 9:45 a.m.

"PG&E crews responded to the scene and expect to have the leak squeezed off around 1 p.m," said Romans.

Kentfield Fire Department crews also responded to the scene, near the popular Creekside Park, and made a precautionary evacuation of the area.

According to Sheriff's Lt. Barry Heying, the leak is at 35 Lancaster Avenue and the Kentfield Fire Department made the decision to evacuate the ten homes immediately around that address. Lancaster is also closed between Behrens and McAllister and CHP is en route for traffic control.

However, said Romans, the evacuations are merely precautionary and the scene is safe. People who live nearby may smell a gas odor.

Check back for more updates.