San Jose Neighborhood Declared Safe After Backhoe Hits Gas Line
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) – PG&E crews have successfully stopped the flow of gas through a line that was ruptured by a construction crew's backhoe in San Jose Thursday morning, according to a utility spokeswoman.
At 12:08 p.m., crews stopped the flow at Miller Avenue where "a third-party contractor hit a two-inch steel gas line," PG&E spokeswoman Mayra Tostado said.
Tostado said the area is now considered safe and PG&E crews are working on repairs.
One home was evacuated and 10 others were told to shelter in place near the intersection of Miller Avenue and Tucker Drive when fire crews found that the gas pipe had ruptured in two places and the pressure was causing the pavement to cave in on itself, San Jose fire officials said.
Firefighters received the first call at 10:06 a.m. from a neighbor who smelled gas coming from the area. They quickly set up a perimeter and blocked off the affected area from the public until PG&E could clamp and secure the line, according to Fire Capt. Daniel Vega.
The fire department's hazardous materials team arrived on scene just before 11 a.m. to set up air monitors, Vega said.
Vega said the intersection was closed off completely because the pipe burst almost exactly in the middle and that they were spraying a light mist of water over the two locations of the burst in order to keep the leaked gas at a minimum.
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