Workers at a north Phoenix construction site were rushed out and a stretch of Mayo Boulevard was shut down Saturday after crews discovered a natural gas leak, prompting a multi-agency hazmat response and shelter-in-place orders for nearby businesses.
Hazmat teams from Phoenix and Scottsdale were called to the scene and spent hours working through the situation, according to authorities, while nearby businesses were told to stay put as crews checked the air and assessed the leak.
According to KTAR, the leak was reported at the Omni construction site, and traffic on Mayo Boulevard was shut down at 73rd Street while emergency crews managed the response. Workers were evacuated safely, and people were urged to avoid the area as it remained an active and evolving scene.
Crews and Utility Safety Guidance
Southwest Gas advises anyone who smells gas to leave the area immediately, call 911 and then its emergency hotline. The utility highlights common warning signs that could signal a leak, including a sulfur-like odor, hissing sounds, or dead or discolored vegetation near gas lines. Its safety page lays out specific steps residents and workers should take if they suspect a problem.
Utility oversight has been under scrutiny following other pipeline incidents in the Valley, and regulators have pushed for expanded inspections and patrols. Arizona's Family reported last year that Southwest Gas agreed to civil penalties and to increase leak patrols after earlier leaks.
What Neighbors and Drivers Should Know
Officials told KTAR that Mayo Boulevard was closed at 73rd Street and that drivers should steer clear of the area while crews worked the scene. Businesses near the Omni site were ordered to shelter in place while hazmat teams took air readings and worked to secure the site, and people in the immediate area were asked to stay away until authorities gave the all clear.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, and crews continued to assess and secure the construction site. Officials and Southwest Gas did not immediately release additional information about what caused the leak.
