Construction work involving a tree removal ruptured a residential natural gas line in Terra Linda, near the Kaiser Permanete medical center, Tuesday afternoon, according to San Rafael fire officials.
San Rafael firefighters arrived at 8 Wellbrock Heights Drive shortly after multiple 911 calls reported a ruptured natural gas line around 3:15 p.m.
San Rafael Fire Chief Chris Gray said construction activity near a home involving concrete work and a tree removal apparently dislodged and ruptured the gas line. A construction crew was breaking a concrete slab with a jackhammer at the residence in the cul-de-sac of the road, he said.
The small, low-pressure, lateral gas line serving the residence broke as the crew removed a tree that had roots wrapped around the gas line, Gray said.
No evacuations were required in the area, but firefighters asked residents on the cul-de-sac to shelter in place for roughly 30 minutes while the gas line was secured, Gray said.
Firefighters worked quickly and temporarily stopped the flow of gas with a large clamp tool before a PG&E crew arrived on the scene, Gray said. The crew left the scene before firefighters arrived because of the gas smell.
There were no injuries reported, Gray said.
- Bay City News contributed to this report
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