A methane gas leak forced evacuation orders in Ventura Thursday afternoon.
Fire crews responded to reports of methane gas odors on the 2800 block of Bayshore Avenue at around 11 a.m.
By 3 p.m., city officials confirmed that methane gas was detected in the underground sewer pipeline system on a street densely populated with homes.
Sky5 footage captured fire crews venting manholes and testing the air quality as they searched for the source of the gas leak.
All evacuation orders and warnings issued earlier in the day were lifted by Thursday night.
A hard road closure remains in effect for:
- Monmouth Way between Pierpont Boulevard and Harbor Boulevard
Earlier in the day, staff at the nearby Pierpont Elementary School issued an early pickup request to parents who were able to drop by. Students who did not have a ride home remained sheltered in place at the school.
“High levels of methane gas can reduce the amount of breathable air in the ambient environment and can lead to explosive conditions,” Ventura city officials said. “Residents who live within the warning areas are asked to follow the instructions of public safety officials.”
The cause of the gas leak remains under investigation.
Read the full article here
Discussion about this post