APRIL 23, 2015
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA
Authorities are asking residents to steer clear of an area
while they repair a natural gas leak Thursday afternoon in Rancho Santa
Margarita.
Around 11 a.m., construction crews working in the street cut
a 2-inch high-pressure gas line near Avenida Empresa and Comercio, Orange
County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.
The streets around the gas leak were closed around 1 p.m.
while workers repaired the damage.
The area between Comercio, Avenida de las Banderas and
Avenida Empresa were expected to be closed for around two hours. By 2:15 p.m.,
one lane in each direction on Avenida Empresa was open, and all of Comercio was
re-opened, according to city officials.
No injuries were reported.
Concialdi said the leak could be smelled but the odor is not
the gas itself.
"Natural gas is colorless and odorless and they have to
put a chemical in there so they can detect it," he said.