State investigates after contractor ruptures Downtown Sacramento gas main, forcing evacuations
More than 1,000 people were evacuated from buildings in downtown Sacramento on Tuesday after a private contractor struck a high-pressure underground natural gas main, prompting a state investigation into how the excavation incident occurred.
The gas leak happened near the intersection of 11th and H streets, where crews were working on utility connections for a new apartment complex under construction, the Sacramento Fire Department said.
Fire officials said the rupture released a plume of flammable natural gas into the air, raising concerns about the potential for an explosion.
"Worst-case scenario would have been some type of potential explosion," Sacramento Fire Capt. Justin Sylvia said.
The 25-story California Environmental Protection Agency headquarters was evacuated after reports of natural gas odors inside the building. About 1,000 employees were forced to leave as a precaution.
Two nearby Aiden Hotels were also evacuated, displacing about a dozen guests.
"It was a strong odor... It could be quite dangerous. It's a little bit scary, but we got all of our guests out of the building," hotel employee Wendy Peacock said.
According to Pacific Gas and Electric, a contractor who was not working for the utility struck a 2-inch plastic gas main while operating an excavator. The contractor had been attempting to connect a sewer line to the new development.
PG&E emergency crews shut off the flow of gas in about 45 minutes before beginning repairs. While the leak was quickly contained, 11th and H streets remained closed for several hours as crews repaired the damaged pipeline.
"There was no quick fix to it when it has that much pressure behind it," Sylvia said.
PG&E said none of its customers lost natural gas service because of the incident.
Yellow spray paint at the scene appeared to indicate the underground gas line had been properly marked before excavation began.
The California Underground Safety Board responded to investigate the incident and interviewed workers involved in the excavation. The agency is working to determine how the gas main was struck.
CBS News Sacramento reached out to the contractor involved in the excavation, but the company declined to comment.
By coincidence, the California Underground Safety Board is scheduled to hold a public workshop in Sacramento next week focused on preventing excavation accidents like Tuesday's gas main rupture.
