9:06 PM:PG&E crews are restoring service to some 70 customers who were impacted by a gas leak in downtown San Francisco this afternoon.
The fire department was notified at about 2 p.m. that a construction crew working at the intersection of Post and Mason streets had hit a 10-inch gas main, fire spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.
One office building at the intersection — 490 Post St.–was evacuated, PG&E spokesman Joe Molica said. Occupants in other buildings on the corner were advised to shelter in place, Molica said.
A PG&E crew was on the scene within minutes to begin making repairs and gas service was shut off to about 70 customers by 3:14 p.m.
Crews completed repairs to the gas main by 5:15 p.m. and began relighting pilot lights for impacted customers at 6:30 p.m.
3:29 PM:PG&E crews are working to stop the flow of gas through a main that was ruptured by a construction crew this afternoon in downtown San Francisco, a utility spokesman said.
The fire department was notified at about 2 p.m. that a construction crew working at the intersection of Post and Mason streets had hit a 10-inch gas main, fire spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.
One office building at the intersection — 490 Post St.–was evacuated, PG&E spokesman Joe Molica said. Occupants in other buildings on the corner were advised to shelter in place, Molica said.
People are being advised to avoid the area around the intersection. Molica said Post Street is closed between Jones and Powell Streets, and Mason Street is closed between Geary and Sutter streets.
“Public safety is our top priority in these situations, so we immediately began working with police and fire,” Molica said.
A PG&E crew was on the scene within minutes to begin making repairs, Molica said, and as of 3:10 p.m. the crew was almost finished adjusting the nine valves that stop the flow of gas through the line.
There was no estimate for when the streets would reopen or when the shelter-in-place warnings would be lifted, Molica said. Once the flow of gas is stopped, gas lingering in the line will continue to escape the ruptured segment, he said.
Until the repairs are completed, Talmadge said one fire engine, one fire truck and a battalion chief will remain posted at the scene as a precautionary measure.
2:55 PM: People in downtown San Francisco are advised to avoid the intersection of Mason and Post streets because of a gas leak, a fire department spokeswoman said.
The fire department was notified at about 2 p.m. that a construction crew working in the middle of the intersection had hit a 10-inch gas main, spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.
A PG&E crew was on the scene within minutes to begin making repairs, Talmadge said, and streets in the immediate area were shut down.
PG&E officials were not immediately available for comment on the incident.
Until the repairs are completed, Talmadge said one fire engine, one fire truck and a battalion chief will be posted at the scene as a precautionary measure.
Patricia Decker, Bay City News
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