Story and photo by Mary O’KEEFE

Eight La Cañada Flintridge homes in the Hampstead Road and Chevy Chase Drive areas near Descanso Gardens have been evacuated after a construction crew broke a natural gas line in three places. SoCal Gas is on the scene but the gas is still being released and a strong smell is apparent.

L.A. County fire received the call at 9:40 a.m. and responded immediately. Firefighters and sheriff deputies cordoned off the the area and evacuated the eight homes. The fire department is remaining on the scene after creating the seclusion zone and is monitoring the situation to avoid ignition of the spewing gas. Officials said that since natural gas is lighter than air, their goal is to keep the air free of any ignition source.

It will take approximately an hour to shut the gas line down.

  Crescenta, gas leak, la canada