The city of Los Altos and other organizations are investigating a gas leak last week caused by construction in downtown Los Altos that caused an evacuation order.
The leak was the result of West Valley Construction, a California Water Service (Cal Water) contractor, performing work in the area of Parking Plaza North near First Street.
“The leak was an unfortunate accident that occurred as our contractor was performing work to connect a fire service to a recent water main upgrade in the downtown area,” Chris Wilson, Cal Water operations manager, stated in an email.
Since the summer, Cal Water and PG&E have been working on infrastructure upgrades downtown aimed at improving long-term service reliability and upgrading water mains near the downtown parking plazas.
Currently, PG&E and West Valley Construction are looking into the cause of the leak, Wilson said. If PG&E determines the contractor did not follow safe digging procedures, the construction company would be liable for the repair costs, PG&E communications representative Stephanie Magallon stated in an email to the Town Crier.
The city of Los Altos is also conducting an investigation into the leak, according to City Manager Gabriel Engeland.
“The city is also investigating the leak and trying to determine if proper protocol was followed by the contractor for Cal Water,” he said. “If it is determined there was negligence that led to the gas leak the city could file a claim against the responsible party for damages and the cost of the public safety response. At this stage, it is too early to determine if any party was negligent in their actions or if the city would proceed with a claim.”
Erica Ray, Santa Clara County Fire information specialist, said the county is not looking into the leak; their focus was on safety. She said such incidents are dangerous and digging must be approached with caution.
“These types of incidents are dangerous and impactful to surrounding homes and businesses, and in most cases, they’re preventable,” she stated in an email. “Always call 811 before digging to ensure PG&E has an opportunity to check for and mark any underground gas lines. This includes when digging on your own property, such as when planting new trees or erecting new fences.”
The leak, described as significant and audible, was secured at 10:44 a.m.
The gas leak was first reported at 8:48 a.m. and required evacuations in the affected area, which included the parts of First Street between Main Street and West Edith Avenue down Third Street.
