UPDATE (5:55 p.m.) – Crews worked throughout the day Tuesday to repair the latest gas leak in Downtown San Luis Obispo, the third reported in the area in less than a month.
The leak was discovered during routine survey work by SoCalGas along Court Street in front of Thai Palace. The incident forced evacuations, closed nearby streets and disrupted local businesses before Monterey Street reopened.
Thai Palace closed for the day as crews worked directly outside the restaurant.
Its just really, really scary, owner Teerapan Teeratarkul said.
Teeratarkul said the closure came as the restaurant was receiving orders Tuesday morning.
A bunch of orders coming in early today too. We have to like contact customers and say we have emergency, Teeratarkul said.
Nearby employees were also affected. Ian Peggs, who works downtown, said his bosses told employees to leave as a precaution.
We contacted our work office and let them know what the situation was, how its like the third one within the past month, and they felt it safer just to close down, Peggs said.
The Anderson Hotel apartments on Monterey Street were also evacuated during the incident.
Tuesday’s leak follows two other disruptive gas leaks in Downtown San Luis Obispo in less than a month. The first happened along Higuera Street on Oct. 8, followed by another along Monterey Street on Oct. 27.
SoCalGas told KSBY that Tuesday’s leak was discovered during routine survey work. The company, however, has not responded to KSBY community reporter Chloe Decas’ questions by phone and email about what is causing the repeated leaks and the condition of the gas lines downtown.
KSBY will continue working to get answers and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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UPDATE (11:10 a.m.) – The San Luis Obispo Police Department has lifted the evacuation order related to the gas leak, and officials say it is safe to return to the area.
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UPDATE (10:55 a.m.) – The City of San Luis Obispo reports that an evacuation order has been issued along Court Street between Monterey and Higuera streets due to Tuesday’s gas leak. The City says anyone who received an evacuation order is advised to leave immediately.
City officials say the leak was first detected by SoCalGas during routine survey work downtown.
The Anderson Hotel at the corner of Monterey and Morro streets was under an evacuation warning as of 10:55 a.m. Residents were being taken to the Ludwick Community Center.
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ORIGINAL STORY: A possible gas leak has closed off a portion of Downtown San Luis Obispo for the third time in less than a month.
The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department responded to reports of the leak along the 1000 block of Court Street in front of Thai Palace shortly before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Fire Chief Randy Harris told KSBY community reporter Chloe Decas theyre working to determine the size of the leak.
Monterey Street remained closed from Osos Street to Morro Street as of 9:15 a.m., and Court Street has been closed off to pedestrians.
Businesses have not been told to close, fire officials say, and the county clerk-recorder’s office says operations at the county government center for Election Day are not impacted at this time.
San Luis Obispo police said Anderson Hotel residents were being evacuated and taken to the Ludwick Community Center on Santa Rosa Street.
People are being asked to avoid the area.
The incident follows a gas leak in the same area that prompted shelter-in-place notifications for areas surrounding the 900 block of Monterey Street on Oct. 27, and another on Oct. 8 along the 700 block of Higuera Street.
Decas has reached out to SoCalGas for information on the leaks but has yet to receive any response.
SLO City Fire says while there’s no confirmed connection between Tuesday’s leak and the previous ones, the department plans to work with SoCalGas on a resolution.
Crews are expected to remain on scene into the afternoon hours.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.