A gasman repairs a rupture in a 1-inch gas main in Avila Beach that caused the evacuation of about 100 people. Photo courtesy CAL FIRE
The warning, “Call before you dig,” got a real-life example recently, when a trenching company ruptured a natural gas line in Avila Beach, and ignited a full blown emergency response.
According to a Cal FIRE news release, on Feb. 26 at 10:15 a.m. fire crews responded to the 2100 block of Canvasback Ln., Avila Beach, “after a trenching operation struck a large-diameter natural gas line, resulting in an active leak within a residential neighborhood.” According to a post on the department’s X account, it was a 1-inch diameter gas line.
The arriving engine crew immediately detected the leak, which CAL FIRE described as “a significant gas release,” and set up a safety perimeter.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” CAL FIRE said, “approximately 100 residents were evacuated, and an additional 200 residents were directed to shelter in place while utility crews worked to isolate and secure the damaged line. Evacuations included the Bay Estates area.”
The County Sheriff’s Department and Port San Luis Harbor Patrol assisted with the evacuations and safety notifications. Pacific Gas & Electric, which owns the gas line, responded to the scene.
“The gas utility company responded promptly and successfully mitigated the leak at approximately 12 p.m.,” the release said. “Once the area was deemed safe, evacuation and shelter-in-place orders were lifted.” There were no injuries reported in the incident, which CAL FIRE said went smoothly, despite being a multi-agency incident response.
“This incident,” CAL FIRE said, “highlights the importance of coordinated, multi-agency response and the cooperation of our community. We appreciate residents for following safety directions and our partner agencies for their swift assistance.”
Any job or project where digging is involved, you must first call 811 that will put you in touch with officials who will contact local utility companies that will come out and determine where any underground utilities are located and mark them with color-coded paint. It’s also required by law.
According to the website, usanorth811.org: “811 is a free national service designed to keep you and your community safe. Before you start any digging project, contacting 811 ensured that you avoid hitting any buried utility lines. This simple call can prevent serious accidents and costly repairs.”
And, “811 is for professional excavators, homeowners, DIYers, agricultural operators or anyone who needs to perform any digging activities. It is designed to prevent damage to underground utilities by ensuring these utilities are marked before excavation begins, enhancing safety and compliance with legal requirements.”
Buried utilities can be of several types besides gas, including electrical lines, cable and communications, water and sewer pipes. “Striking one of these can result in power outages, gas leaks, water contamination or even property damage.”
Calling 811 first can save you a lot of headaches, and potentially avert disaster, too.
