About 60 people were evacuated from a Goleta neighborhood after an accidental gas leak was reported Friday morning, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said.
A backhoe ruptured an exterior gas line between two condominium buildings on the 7000 block of Davenport Road, which is west of The Plaza and Camino Real Marketplace shopping centers.
Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said 20 units in two buildings were evacuated as a precaution after the leak, which was reported at 9:43 a.m.
The leak was controlled around 12:30 p.m. and evacuations were lifted, Safechuck said.
SoCalGas crews responded to the scene and repairs were expected to take several hours, according to Safechuck.
No injuries were reported in the incident.
“Preliminary information indicates the construction personnel made proper notifications before digging; an inaccuracy in gas line mapping may have contributed to the incident,” Safechuck added.
Anyone digging, for projects large and small, is advised to “call before you dig.” The 8-1-1 number and DigAlert website has information on reporting.
“Anyone who plans to dig should call 8-1-1 or go to their state 811 center’s website before digging to request that the approximate location of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags so that you don’t unintentionally dig into an underground utility line,” authorities say.