Google's Mountain View Headquarters Evacuated Due to Gas Leak

SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA -- About 600 Google employees were evacuated from two buildings at the company's headquarters in Mountain View the morning of Feb. 1 when a gas line broke, fire officials said.

The break occurred when a contractor using a backhoe to clear a blocked drain line accidentally pierced the two-inch gas line, causing a strong smell of gas in the area.

The contractor who accidentally pierced the gas line did not call 811 before digging, according to PG&E officials. Contractors are required by law to call 811 before digging to ensure that they don't hit a gas line.

The incident was reported at 9:53 a.m. at 1945 Charleston Road, a two-story office building on Google's Mountain View campus.

That building and 1965 Charleston Road were both evacuated by firefighters and Google employee emergency response teams, Mountain View Fire Department spokesman Lynn Brown said.

PG&E crews put a clamp on the line at 10:24 a.m., and at 10:56 a.m. fire officials gave the all-clear.

PG&E is still working to fully repair the line. Charleston Road and Landings Drive, which were initially closed, have since reopened.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock