By Khalida Sarwari
PG&E crews have stopped a gas leak in San Jose that prompted the evacuation of homes and an elementary school this morning.
The leak was reported at about 9:25 a.m. in the 700 block of Willis Ave., fire Capt. Chuck Rangel said. He said a police officer smelled gas and reported it to the fire department.
PG&E crews found that a 2-inch underground plastic gas line was leaking and shut it off at about 11:45 a.m., PG&E spokesman Matt Nauman said.
He said crews dug holes on either side of the line and squeezed it off to stop the gas flow.
Three PG&E customers remained without gas service early this afternoon.
After the leak was reported, about 15 homes were evacuated as a precaution, Rangel said. He said residents would be able to return once firefighters determine there are no pockets of gas remaining.
The leak also prompted the closure of nearby Gardner Academy, an elementary school at 502 Illinois Ave.
Karen Fuqua, spokeswoman for the San Jose Unified School District, said parents were advised to come pick up their children.
She said the children are “perfectly safe” and that school staff would remain with them until their parents arrived.
Parents should use the Bird Avenue and Virginia Street entrance, Fuqua said.
Nauman said gas service would be restored sometime later this afternoon. PG&E is investigating the cause of the leak, he said.