Updated at 3:20 p.m., May 16, 2015
A natural gas leak in central Hollywood Saturday led to traffic congestion and the evacuation of four square blocks between the Hollywood (101) Freeway and Hollywood Boulevard, firefighters said.
More than 100 people — including 10 pets — were evacuated from six buildings, after a 6-inch pressurized methane gas line was ruptured, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The leak was reported at 11:28 a.m. at 1776 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Stewart said.
The line was ruptured during work by a third party contractor, according to the Southern California Gas Company. The fire department had reported earlier that crew was from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Cahuenga Boulevard was closed to traffic at Yucca Street, one block north of Hollywood Boulevard. The closure was was expected to last for more than four hours today, firefighters said.
Buildings evacuated for precautionary reasons were bounded by Franklin Avenue to the north, Ivar Avenue to the east, Wilcox Avenue to the west and Hollywood Boulevard to the south.
There was no fire and non one was injured.
The odorized natural gas could be smelled by motorists driving by on the nearby 101 Freeway.
In such large leaks, state investigators usually seek information on what caused the transmission line to be pierced. Some large gas pipes are not properly marked and not marked, investigators have found, while other times crews dig where they are not supposed to.
—City News Service