Gas Leak Causes Evacuation of Buildings and Closure of El Camino Real

A Friday morning vehicle crash at 4410 El Camino Real caused a gas line to sever and forced the evacuation of two building in Los Altos.

Multiple calls began to arrive to the at 9:53 a.m. about a vehicle accident and gas leak, according to Spokesman Lynn Brown.

Upon arrival firefighters found that "a vehicle had left the roadway and then struck a gas meter and severed the gas line."

The Los Altos Police Department provided traffic control since El Camino Real had to be closed in both directions. Firefighters evacuated two buildings, 4410 and 4440 on W. El Camino Real. The occupants of a third building, 4460 W. El Camino, were told to shelter in place.

PG&E responded and repaired the damaged gas line.

The fire department gave the occupants the go ahead to return to the evacuated buildings by 11 a.m. and El Camino was reopened at 11:25 a.m.

The Palo Alto Fire Department provided mutual aid.