UPDATED: Homes Evacuated After Gas Line Ruptures Near Aragon High School

UPDATED, 3:48 p.m.: PG&E crews have capped off a broken gas main that was accidentally punctured by a third-party contractor around 10:15 a.m. Thursday morning.

The puncture prompted the evacuation of several homes in the area near Notre Dame Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas, not far from

According to San Mateo Police Sgt. Dave Norris, PG&E gave an "all clear" notice at 1:15 p.m., and San Mateo Police had sent a rapid-notice phone message that the area was safe by 1:30 p.m.

PG&E representatives reported that five homes lost gas due to the problem. As of 3 p.m., three of the two homes had been restored access. The remaining two homes are expected to have their gas restored by 6 p.m.

According to an article by the San Mateo County Times, residents in the area said the smell of gas was in the air on Georgetown Avenue and Sonora Drive, where homes were being evacuated.

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PG&E crews are working to repair a ruptured gas line near in San Mateo Thursday, a utility spokesman said.

Spokesman Joe Molica said PG&E received word at 10:14 a.m. that a third-party contractor had struck a plastic half-inch line while digging near Alameda de las Pulgas and Notre Dame Avenue. Crews arrived about 12 minutes later, and the initial plan was to squeeze off the line to cut the flow of gas, he said.

However, Molica said it appears the contractor, who was using an auger to dig into the ground, struck the plastic line at the point where it branches out from a 2-inch steel line. The tool is still embedded in the line, he said.

"In situations like this, it's quicker and safer to dig holes on either side of the leak and shut the gas flow that way," he said.

Meanwhile, several nearby homes have been evacuated.

Molica said crews hoped to stop the flow of gas by 1 p.m. As of 2 p.m., there is no update on whether that has been accomplished.

Molica said one customer was without power, but that the number would expand to five as crews interrupted the gas flow to make permanent repairs.

San Mateo Police and Fire Departments also responded to the area late Thursday morning. Police representatives say danger to people nearby is "minimal."

"Notre Dame is a pedestrian and vehicle access road without residential addresses, situated between two residential streets," Sgt. Dave Norris said in a press advisory. "Selected residences between Alameda de las Pulgas and Harvard Avenue along Sonora and Georgetown Avenues have been evacuated, and a rapid notification phone message was sent out to the immediate area."

"One officer, five traffic control officers, and one sergeant are on scene from the San Mateo Police Department, and two San Mateo Fire Department engine companies were called to assist with the incident," Norris continued. "SMFD and SMPD are working in a unified command with PG&E at the scene."

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.

- Bay City News Service contributed to this report

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