Gas Leak on Lafayette and Homestead

At 2:40PM today, a gas leak in a two-inch plastic pipeline at Lafayette and Homestead led officials to temporarily close the intersection and evacuate students and staff from Nobili Hall and Mayer Theatre.

The gas leak occurred during construction of a sewer pipeline for new restrooms in Mayer Theatre. The fire department arrived soon after to close the intersection in case of an explosion.

Junior Austin Nickel was sitting in his Nobili room when he heard a knock on the door from campus safety. The situation was "pretty panicked," he said. When he stepped outside, he could smell the gas on his way to the emergency evacuation space.

Charlie Arrolla, director of Campus Safety, says he hopes PG&E will be able to fix the pipeline by 4:30PM.