An estimated 85 people remained evacuated Friday while technicians continued efforts to repair a ruptured gas main that caused a leak outside a San Jacinto business.
The natural gas leak was reported at 11:25 a.m. Thursday near the intersection of North State Street and West Esplanade Avenue, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
A 7 a.m. Friday update said evacuation orders and warnings remained in place as SoCal Gas continued to work on the gas leak involving a high-pressure pipe.
Multiple engine crews were sent to the location and confirmed that an eight-inch diameter line had been punctured, resulting in a wide dispersal of gas, fire officials said.
Shortly before 1 p.m., authorities implemented mandatory evacuations that affected all businesses in the vicinity, along with an unspecified number of surrounding residences.
The evacuation zone was identified as north to Fruitvale Avenue, south to Seventh Street, west to Santa Fe Avenue, and east to Palm Avenue.
An estimated 85 people were evacuated. The fire department opened a care and reception center at Tahquitz High School, in Hemet. At 9 p.m., it was announced that the care center was moved to Hemet High School at 41701 Stetson Ave.
Sheriff’s deputies and Hemet Police Department personnel closed access to streets leading into the evacuation zone for public safety.
SoCal Gas Co. technicians arrived by 1 p.m. to initiate repairs, fire officials said.
There was no word on what might have caused the main to break.