Gas Line Ruptured In Orinda
ORINDA (KCBS/BCN) - Fourteen buildings were evacuated Wednesday night because a construction crew using a backhoe cut into a two-inch natural gas line downtown, according to the Moraga-Orinda Fire District.
The Contra Costa County Fire Department issued a shelter in place for a half-mile radius around the leaking main on Moraga Way between Brookwood and Southwood Drives.
There was no explosion or fire, and no one was injured when the main was hit at 11:26 p.m.
Authorities are investigating whether the crew employed by USA Construction was aware there was a gas line when they excavation began.
A Pacific Gas and Electric Crew was on scene within 15 minutes to begin work to cap the leak. As of 6:40 a.m. Thursday, the line had not been completely capped, although fire officials said there was no threat to public safety.
The original report was of a 6-inch gas line rupture fire officials said.
The evacuation order was lifted after about an hour and a half when it was determined that the gas leak was from a 2-inch pipe and did not pose a danger to residents, fire officials said.
There were three gas line ruptures in the Bay Area this week. Gas line ruptures were also reported at Cal State East Bay on Wednesday and in Millbrae on Tuesday night.
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