Cause of Roseville Gas Leak Fire Still Unknown

The City of Roseville released information regarding the on Riverside Avenue and Cirby Way Sept. 27.

Take a look at the update from the city:

To follow up on the Sept. 27 gas leak at intersection of Cirby Way and Riverside Avenue, the City of Roseville requested a meeting with PG&E representatives, which occurred this morning, Oct. 3.

Representing the City of Roseville at the meeting were Vice Mayor Susan Rohan; City Manager Ray Kerridge; assistant city managers Russ Branson, Rob Jensen, and John Sprague; Police Chief Daniel Hahn; Interim Fire Chief Wynn Latta; and Public Affairs & Communications Director Megan MacPherson.  Representing PG&E were Executive Manager for Sacramento Service & Sales Clay Schmidt, Northern Region Superintendent Mike Raab, and Government Relations Consultant Brian Jensen.

City representatives expressed their concerns clearly and felt it was a productive meeting at which there was a shared commitment to public safety.  PG&E explained the status of their analysis, testing, maintenance, and replacement schedules for the Aldyl-A pipe in question.

Roseville City Manager Ray Kerridge requested that a PG&E representative give an update to the community at the start of the City Council meeting. The meeting begins at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5, following the Mayor’s previously scheduled State of the City speech at 6:30 p.m.

At today’s meeting, PG&E officials said they’re conducting a root cause analysis to determine what caused the specific leak at the intersection, and the company is replacing the pipe at that location starting tomorrow evening, Tuesday, Oct. 4, weather permitting.  It will be all nighttime construction, taking place from 11 p.m. – 5 a.m.

Roseville officials expressed concern with the Aldyl-A plastic pipe and PG&E stated that it has stepped up its monitoring efforts in Roseville.  The plastic pipe in question was in use from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, and PG&E said it stopped using Aldyl-A pipes when a better plastic was developed. PG&E representatives also said that maintaining public safety and the integrity of the PG&E infrastructure in Roseville is a high priority, and stated that most of the transmission and distribution system in Roseville is unaffected by this type of pipe because most of the development in Roseville occurred since the early 1980s when the use of Aldyl-A was discontinued. 

While it is a relief to know that the majority of the city is not affected, Roseville officials remain focused on the safety concerns in the areas that are affected by the use of this plastic.  With that in mind, the City and PG&E will meet monthly to review the status of the issue.  Maps will be provided to city staff to show where the pipe is in use and as a basis to discuss how PG&E is prioritizing its response and what that response will entail.

While this kind of pipe is not used inside homes, it is still critical that the public knows what to look for and what to do. Keep the following in mind: