Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations, 100 Closures At Cabazon [UPDATED]

CABAZON, CA — Approximately 100 stores were evacuated Thursday after a gas leak was reported at the outlet centers in Cabazon, firefighters tell Patch. The hundreds of people affected by the evacuations weren't back into the eastern part of Desert Hills Premium Outlets for several hours.

The leak was reported at 10:01 a.m. at a construction site near the Hugo Boss outlet, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. A crew hit an outside gas line, starting the leak.

Multiple fire engines were sent to the scene, along with the gas company.

The Southern California Gas Company released the following info to Patch about the incident around 1:15 p.m.:

At approximately 11 a.m., our crews responded to reports of a third-party contractor damaging a 2-inch plastic line, causing a release of natural gas and one outage near the east village section of the outlet mall at 48400 block of Seminole Drive in the City of Cabazon.

As a precaution, the fire department evacuated approx. 100 stores at the outlet mall. However, there is no threat to public safety, and no injuries have been reported. SoCalGas crews expect to stop the flow of gas within the next hour; then make necessary repairs.

Importantly, we want to remind business owners and residents to "call 811 before you dig" at construction sites or in the yard.

— Photos courtesy Sarah Holmes