Tar, Natural Gas Rises Up Onto Streets Near La Brea Tar Pits

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) - A large puddle of tar encroached on the sidewalk and natural gas appeared to rise from the street of the Miracle Mile in Los Angeles Friday.

CBSLA's Brittany Hopper was standing near the puddle located across the street from The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, a national natural landmark where tar has been seeping up from the ground for tens of thousands of years.

When CBSLA reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department, they said they were unaware of the situation.

The Page Museum, who reportedly runs the tar pits, has not been in contact regarding the situation.

As of Saturday morning, it was unclear if and when crews would begin to stop the tar from seeping out further.

And on Saturday, more seepage. Enough to draw the interests of tourists and residents alike.

CBS2's Jake Reiner said tourists and residents alike have been coming to the area marveling at the bubbling tar.

Resident Natalie Vota stopped to document it Friday and Saturday.

"This is the worst I've seen," she said Saturday.

But the tourists -- like Rick Stahl from the Pacific Northwest  -- had one more story to tell when he gets back home.

"We're from Seattle," Stahl said, "and you don't see this oozing out of the streets. It's amazing."

That sentiment was echoed by tourist Don Van Cleave from Nashville.

Reiner asked him if he thought he'd be smelling tar this day?

"Mission accomplished. I can check that off my list as a tourist of LA."

Saturday evening, locals told KCAL9's Jeff Nguyen that they have become quite accustomed to seeing tar oozing up through the sidewalks -- just not this much of it.

"I've lived here for about 20 years," said Andrea Ross-Greene, "and this is the worst it's ever been."

Miracle Mile resident Matthew Kogan concurred.

"You see a little bit of tar oozing up between the pavement," Kogan says, "all over the neighborhood. That's not unusual but this seems to be flow tar. I've never seen this before."

Not to mention the constant hissing sound coming from the ground -- it's methane.

"I can smell it. I thought a car broke its oil pan out here," says Patrick Myer.