Of Three Gas Leak Reports Today, Only One Was Legitimate

Bay City News — With two false alarms today over natural gas leaks at schools and an actual real leak forcing an evacuation this afternoon in the East Bay, it's safe to say that that many in the Bay Area are on edge following the Sept. 9 fatal explosion and fire.

A contractor struck and ruptured a 3-inch steel gas line in Oakland this afternoon, prompting the evacuation of buildings just east of Lake Merritt, a PG&E spokesman said. The leak was reported sometime around 1 p.m. near 90 Athol Ave. PG&E spokesman Brian Swanson said it appears the leak was caused by a contractor installing cable in the area. Swanson said shortly before 3:30 p.m. that PG&E crews were at the scene and hope to cap the leak by 4:30 p.m. so residents can return home.

Earlier today San Bruno's Portola Elementary was evacuated due to a possible gas smell, and a school in San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood also reported a possible gas leak.

Portola, located less than a mile from the explosion site, was determined to be safe, although classes were canceled for the day. At the San Francisco school, a school employee reported a natural gas smell that turned out to be nothing.

Galileo Academy of Science and Technology was evacuated after authorities received a report at 1:24 p.m. from a staff member who smelled natural gas, San Francisco fire Lt. Mindy Talmadge said. The school, located at 1150 Francisco St., evacuated its students and staff as a precaution while fire and PG&E crews responded to the campus, Talmadge said.

A "very, very thorough check" of the school determined there was no leak or other danger to the school, and fire officials said it was safe to return to the campus at 1:57 p.m., according to Talmadge.

Talmadge said last week's disaster, caused by a 30-inch natural gas pipeline that ruptured, killing at least four people, has led to "a moderate increase in calls" reporting the smell of gas in the past week. "It's to be expected," she said. "It was a very traumatic event and people are frightened by it."

Talmadge said fire officials are encouraging people to continue calling in possible gas leaks. "If you smell something, go ahead and call 911. Don't write it off," she said.

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