Gas Leak Evacuates 75 Office Workers

Construction crews using a jackhammer punctured a small gas line Monday afternoon near Second Street and Santa Monica Boulevard, triggering an evacuation at a nearby office building.

The area was safe for residents and businesses near the Third Street Promenade, but 75 office workers at 1423 Second St. were evacuated as a precaution, said Southern California Gas Company spokeswoman Denise King.

"The office building will temporarily lose service as we make repairs," King said shortly after 3 p.m.

She estimated repairs to the three-quarter inch steel pipe would be complete in about 2 hours.

The leak was reported to the Santa Monica Police Department from callers who heard "hissing" noises emanating from the Second Street alley, said Sgt. Richard Lewis.

Nineteen firefighters and two Southern California Gas Company trucks were on scene in front of the construction site just west of Anthropologie.

"We got there at 1:40 p.m. and at approximately 1:50 p.m had at least stopped the gas in preparation for So Cal Gas to make the repairs," said Battalion Chief Carl Bjerke.

Firefighters were monitoring gas levels and stretched a fire hose down the Second Street alley in case of an explosion.

"In cases like this, we like to take the opportunity to remind people to call 811, a free service for companies and home owners before digging to prevent unnecessary damage to gas lines," King said.

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