Gas leak in Los Banos forces evacuations

A private home builder apparently struck an unmarked gas line late Monday morning in Los Banos, prompting the evacuation of two homes in the neighborhood, the Los Banos Police Department reported.

The gas leak was reported at 10:55 a.m. in the 1100 block of Bellflower Way in Los Banos, police Cmdr. Jason Hedden said.

Residents in two homes evacuated voluntarily as a safety precaution, and a resident in a third home agreed to stay inside while crews scrambled to repair the damaged line, according to Tim Marrison, assistant fire chief in Los Banos.

A crew from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. managed to shut down the gas line and repair the damage. Residents returned to their homes after about 45 minutes, Marrison said.

Four homes were affected by the broken gas line, though one of the homes was vacant, authorities said.

Denny Boyles, a PG&E spokesman, said precautionary evacuations are common when lines break. It was unclear exactly when the gas service would resume at those homes, Boyles said.

Firefighters said the the unmarked, two-inch gas line was ruptured by a backhoe that belonged to Anderson Homes.

No injuries were reported.

This story was originally published June 16, 2014 at 11:51 AM.