Officials in Newport Beach issue evacuation order for several homes after methane gas was detected
Evacuation orders and a local emergency have been issued in a neighborhood in Newport Beach after local officials said they detected methane gas on Thursday morning.
Officials said the leak may have been caused by an oil intrusion from an "abandoned private oil well" under one of the properties. Newport Beach Fire Department Chief Jeff Boyles said the well was capped in the 1920s and sits about 800 feet below the home.
"The gas has since increased. The pressure has increased," Boyles said. "It's hissing now from a crack in the concrete, which means it's pressurized."
SkyCal flew over the scene, where officials were seen placing red tags on several homes on the 3600 block of Marcus Avenue. The area around the homes is restricted to authorized personnel only, including emergency responders and city staff.
"Our top priority is the safety of residents and our neighborhoods," said City Manager Grace Leung. "We are taking swift action to protect the public while closely assessing the situation and coordinating with partner agencies."
Crews are working to vent any accumulated methane gas within the structure, and they will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
"The methane and hydrogen sulfide were reaching levels that were highly flammable, so any type of spark or ignition source seemingly would cause it to ignite," Boyles said.
Evacuation order lifted
The City of Newport Beach lifted the evacuation order later on Thursday, and residents were cleared to return to their homes. Mitigation of the methane gas leak was achieved with a ventilation system using several large, vertical pipes to safely release the gas into the atmosphere. A ground-level system was also put in place to vent any additional gas, according to the city.
The incident originated several months ago when the homeowner at the primary affected home noticed oil seeping up through the home's foundation. Methane gas was detected and confirmed later, on Oct. 22. The city immediately ordered the evacuation of seven surrounding homes.
The affected property at 3606 Marcus Avenue will remain red-tagged until the homeowner can find and implement a permanent solution to the oil and gas seepage, according to the city.
