A gas leak in San Jacinto, Riverside County caused substantial disruption yesterday, leading to mandatory evacuations in the area. The incident reportedly began around 11:23 a.m. when roadwork construction workers may have struck a major gas line, according to NBC Los Angeles. As a response, homes, businesses, and schools within a half-mile radius of State Street near Ramona Boulevard, were cleared as precautionary measures.
Evacuation orders affected multiple streets, including areas north of Crows Nest, south of the canal, west of Buena Vista, and east of Palm, per the latest updates from authorities. Additional areas received downgraded evacuation warnings, including regions south of Tenth, west of Santa Fe, east of Buena Vista, and north of Fruitvale, as reported by KTLA. The Riverside County Fire and Sheriff’s Departments along with Hemet Police, are in unified command overseeing the situation.
Authorities facilitated support for displaced residents by setting up care and reception centers. Initially located at Tahquitz High School, the facility was later moved to Hemet High School at 41701 Stetson Avenue. For those with pets, animal services were made available at 6851 Van Buren Blvd. in Jurupa Valley, a detail shared by CBS News Los Angeles. To tackle the leak, SoCalGas had crews on the scene and were working to mitigate the risks well into the evening.
The definite number of evacuees is still unconfirmed, but the evacuation zone covers approximately 2 square miles. Hemet Police Department announced road closures, including State Street and Esplanade Avenue, indicating that "Roads will be closed with hard barricades for a few hours until resolved," and promising updates once the situation cleared. As services work to contain the hazard, locals are urged to follow official communication channels for timely updates on the developing situation.
