Evacuation orders lifted hours later
A large high-pressure gas line break brought the ordered evacuation of downtown Hemet residents Thursday, March 20 including one mobile home park.
Large volumes of toxic gas spewed from the six-inch high pressure Southern California Gas Co. line off of State Street and Esplanade Avenue apparently severed by a construction backhoe occurred about 11 a.m., according to initial reports.
Immediate area businesses and homes were warned about the gas leak that could be heard gushing from the broken line. Shortly after the fire department’s arrival, evacuation orders were issued for nearby businesses and residents. With the gas line being very large, it was difficult to shut it down immediately with the closest turnoff valves being some distance away. As t
