Gas odor prompts school evacuation in Walnut Creek

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- The smell of natural gas spread through downtown Walnut Creek this morning, forcing a school to evacuate, a school district official said.

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and Walnut Creek police began receiving calls shortly after 8 a.m. about an odor of gas near Interstate Highway 680 along the Wapolice began receiving calls shortly after 8 a.m. about an odor of gas near Interstate Highway 680 along the Walnut Creek-Pleasant Hill border, police said.

Las Lomas High School, located at 1460 S. Main St., was evacuated at about 8:40 a.m. as a precaution after the smell of gas was noticed in the building, Acalanes Union High School District Associate Superintendent Chris Learned said.

PG&E crews found that there was no danger at the school, and students were allowed to re-enter the building at about 9 a.m., Learned said.

Fire Marshal Lewis Broschard said the number of calls regarding the odor has dropped.

The source of the odor has nshal Lewis Broschard said the number of calls regarding the odor has dropped.

The source of the odor has not been found, PG&E spokesman Brian Swanson said. PG&E is still investigating the incident.

Get more East Bay News »

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•