Gas Line Rupture In Old Town Temecula Prompts Evacs, Road Closure

UPDATE 10:35 A.M.: Fire officials say the area is back open, as a Southern California Gas crew has completed repairs and evacuations are lifted.

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TEMECULA, CA — Emergency responders evacuated people from the Old Town Temecula area after a possible construction accident prompted a gas leak in the area. Fire officials tell Patch they are assisting with "precautionary evacuations" of buildings in the area while they wait for the gas company to get to the scene after a rupture occurred outside.

As a result of the incident, Old Town Front Street has been closed in both directions between Moreno Road and 6th Street.

The Riverside County Fire Department says Southern California Gas officials have been called to the scene.

The incident was first reported around 8:30 a.m. in the 28400 block of Old Town Front Street. Though details related to what caused the leak are yet to be confirmed, a backhoe was spotted next to the site leak. The operator had been working on the sidewalk restoration project in the area.

According to reports from the scene, several businesses have been evacuated in the radius of the road closure.

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