A significant gas pipeline rupture in California's Castaic valley on Saturday evening triggered a major emergency response, forcing thousands of residents to shelter in place and causing major travel disruption during a busy holiday weekend.
Emergency Response and Public Safety Orders
The Los Angeles County Fire Department first received reports of the leak on the Old Ridge Route just after 4:20pm PST. Officials swiftly issued a shelter-in-place order affecting approximately 14,000 residents in the area. The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Office advised people to stay inside, close all doors, windows, and vents, and to shut off HVAC systems.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass addressed public concerns, stating, 'We are closely monitoring a gas leak which occurred in Castaic, Los Angeles County. Some Angelenos may smell the odor of natural gas in the air.' She emphasised that LAFD and L.A. County report that this is not harmful and poses no immediate danger to City residents. Hazardous Materials teams were deployed to monitor air quality.
Transport Chaos and Initial Fears
The incident caused severe travel disruption. Shortly after 5pm PST, the California Highway Patrol closed all lanes of a major highway, diverting traffic and leaving some motorists stranded for hours. The closure persisted as SoCalGas crews worked to isolate the damaged section of pipeline.
Initial fears centred on the possibility of a landslide, with video footage showing billowing smoke and apparent land movement. However, LAFD Captain Brian Knight later told ABC affiliate KABC that authorities had ruled out a landslide. He explained that any rumbling felt by locals was due to the extreme pressure from the leak itself.
Community Impact and All-Clear
The rupture had a tangible impact on the community. Residents reported a strong rotten egg smell, with the odour detected miles away due to weather conditions. Nick Steese, a local resident, told The Signal that his eyes burned from the gas and that 'We were holding our breath to keep from smelling it.' Others reported their houses shaking from the initial burst.
Governor Gavin Newsom's office confirmed he had been briefed, while the Governor's Office of Emergency Services warned the situation was 'very dynamic.' The shelter-in-place order was finally lifted at 9:45pm PST for all areas, with highways reopening around 9pm. Authorities confirmed the cause of the break was still under investigation but reiterated there was no ongoing risk to the public.
Despite the all-clear, the event proved a major inconvenience on a busy travel weekend, with reports of stranded travellers facing significant delays and discomfort until the alert was lifted.
