Beaumont Gas Leak Resolved, Evacuations, Road Closures Lifted

BEAUMONT, CA—Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department and the SoCal Gas company kept a neighborhood safe Wednesday amid an active gas leak in Beaumont.

The gas leak was resolved, and evacuations, shelter-in-place and road closures were lifted as of 1:45 p.m., according to Cal Fire. "The scene has been turned over to Southern California Gas Company."

Shortly before 9:45 a.m., firefighters and the gas company were called to the 1300 block of E. Eighth Street and 800 Cherry Avenue on reports of a gas leak. Officials promptly evacuated residents and closed 8th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and American Avenue as they mitigated repairs.

Evacuations were ordered for residents of Eighth Street between Illinois and Palo Alto Avenue, and a shelter-in-place order was issued for residents between 8th Street and Pennsylvania Avenues, according to Capt. John Clingingsmith.

While the gas company worked to stop the leak, an evacuation center was established at the Albert A. Chatigny Senior Center at 1310 Oak Valley Parkway in Beaumont. The cause of the gas leak was not immediately released.

"We expect the closures and evacuations to be lifted by 1 p.m. if everything goes smooth," Clingingsmith said.