Irvine building re-opens after gas leak

IRVINE A construction mistake that ruptured an underground gas line early Wednesday forced the evacuation of an office building and shut down a nearby road.

The Gas Company pinched off the leaking natural gas and repaired the broken plastic pipe several hours after people first reported hearing the hiss of escaping gas. Workers were let back into the building at 3101 Michelson Drive before noon, after waiting for the area to air out.

Workers wait as gas company welders go to work. Irvine officers had shut down traffic on Carlson Avenue after evacuating a nearby building due to a gas leak near the Shops at Park Place.

KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A construction company doing work in the area hit and ruptured the two-inch underground gas line, said Angela Fentiman, a SoCal Gas spokeswoman. Firefighters responding to a call about a hissing noise in a nearby parking lot discovered the leak around 7:30 a.m.

Carlson Avenue was closed while firefighters waited for crews to shut off gas to the area, said Capt. Marc Stone of the Orange County Fire Authority. The U.S. Bank office building and the adjacent parking structure were also evacuated.

A work crew repaired the pipe shortly before 11 a.m., but officials waited for the natural gas in the air to dissipate before letting workers return to the building. The evacuation was lifted before noon.

The gas leak is still under investigation. But Fentiman said it's a good reminder that workers both professionals and do-it-yourselfers -- should call 811 before they dig so utility companies can mark underground lines.

Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361

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Irvine building re-opens after gas leak