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Water main break, gas leak shuts down San Francisco block

A crew of Department of Public Works workers tend to a gas leak on the block of Duboce Avenue between Castro Street and Noe Street in San Francisco on Wednesday. | Michaela Neville/The Standard

UPDATE: There is a confirmed 12-inch water main break and a suspected 16-inch water main break at the intersection of Duboce Avenue and Castro Street, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. The cause of the breaks remain unknown, and the confirmed 12-inch break remains active, the fire department said.

Firefighters responded to a water main break at 4:51 a.m. Wednesday and discovered a gas leak on the scene.

The gas leak was shut off by PG&E around 5:10 a.m.

The fire department said in a tweet that the gas leak was not due to failed PG&E infrastructure, but was caused by a water main break.

There are no reported injuries or damaged homes and an evacuation order remains in effect for a one-block radius around Duboce Avenue and Castro Street.

The soil in the area is saturated with gas from the leak and is off-gassing, but the chance of ignition is "extremely low," fire department spokesperson Jonathan Baxter said.

Crews are monitoring gas levels as the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission addresses the water main break.

Homes in the area will also be tested for the presence of gas to ensure safe levels.

Utilities commission crews are conducting assessments and repairs at the site of the leak and nearby Davies Hospital remains open, Baxter said.

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The public was asked to avoid the area of Duboce Avenue and Castro Street in San Francisco on Wednesday morning in an advisory sent at 6:35 a.m. by city emergency officials.

City emergency crews and PG&E are working to stop a natural gas leak and 16-inch water main break in the area, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.

As of 7:35 a.m., crews were trying to shut off the gas flowing to the line so repairs can be made.

Evacuation orders are in effect for residents and businesses within a one-block radius of the intersection, according to fire department spokesman Jonathan Baxter. Police officers went door-to-door to deliver the notice.

A crew of Department of Public Works workers tend to a gas leak on the block of Duboce Avenue between Castro Street and Noe Street in San Francisco on Wednesday. | Michaela Neville/The Standard

There were no injuries and no known property damage reported as of 7:35 a.m., according to Baxter.

The nearby California Pacific Medical Center Davies campus remained open and was not expected to be evacuated, Baxter said.

Muni buses are being rerouted away from the scene. Drivers are asked to use other routes or prepare for traffic in the area. Parking is also impacted in the area.

For alerts, the fire department recommended that people text their ZIP code to 888-777.

 Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Garrett Leahy can be reached at garrett@sfstandard.com

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