Evacuations after a gas line is vandalized in Coachella
The Gas Company tells News Channel 3 that they received reports of a damaged natural gas rise on fire Wednesday afternoon on the 50000 block of Cesar Chavez St. in Coachella.
They determined that the damage was caused by vandalism.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Department had established a 300-foot evacuation perimeter around the gas leak.
The gas was stopped 45 minutes later and repairs were being made. Evacuations were lifted at 6:20 pm Wednesday night.
According to Cal Fire, the gas line produced flames up against a masonry commercial structure. The leak was confined to the meter with no threat to the structure, Cal Fire confirmed.
The Gas Company encourages customers to call them at 1-800-427-2200 which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
