A massive natural gas leak north of Los Angeles shut down a busy interstate and briefly forced nearby communities to shelter in place
Published by RawNews1st
A natural gas leak near the 5 Freeway in Castaic on Saturday forced a major freeway shutdown and gridlock traffic, and raised concerns for nearby communities.
Natural gas leaked from a main gas line in Castaic, just east of the southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway near the intersection of Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place. It was first reported around 4:20 p.m.
The sight and strong smell prompted safety concerns and shut down the 5 Freeway in both directions. The freeway reopened around 8:45 p.m.
The area remained restricted as crews continued working, even though officials said the immediate danger had passed.
Fire officials confirmed the leak came from a 34-inch transmission line — a major natural gas pipe that runs near the 5 Freeway.
They say there was no explosion, even though many people thought that’s what they were seeing or feeling.
Officials explained that the pipe was under extreme pressure, and when it failed, the gas was released forcefully, kicking up dirt and debris, which was visible to drivers in the area
Eyewitness News spoke to Los Angeles County fire officials, who said they did not believe land movement seen in aerial footage above the scene played a factor in the gas leak. They said their initial investigation at the scene would have unveiled that. However, SoCal Gas acknowledged that there has been significant land movement in the area after recent storms, and said they are not ruling that out as a cause. The cause of the break is still under investigation.
According to SoCal Gas, crews safely isolated the damaged section of the pipeline and stopped the leak. They said there is no indication of an ignition or explosion.
