A construction accident caused a natural gas leak that prompted brief evacuations in a City Heights-area neighborhood this afternoon.
The flammable fumes began spewing out of a damaged half-inch-diameter utility pipe in an alley off the 3800 block of Chamoune Avenue about 1 p.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
Authorities cleared people out of about a dozen nearby homes while San Diego Gas & Electric crews worked to shut off the damaged line. The problem was under control by shortly before 2 p.m., SDG&E spokeswoman Denice Menard said.
The mishap left a single home temporarily without gas service. The residence was back on line about 4:30 p.m., Menard said.
There were no reports of anyone suffering ill effects from the wafting vapors.
— City News Service
