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Shelter-in-place at elementary school lifted
By Karl Fischer and Kimberly S. Wetzel
West County Times
May 14, 2008
A ruptured gas line in San Pablo forced a shelter-in-place order at an elementary school Tuesday morning for more than two hours.
Pacific Gas & Electric crews restored the line around 11 a.m., and the shelter-in-place order that went into effect at Downer Elementary School was lifted shortly after, said Paul Ehara, spokesman for the West Contra Costa school district.
Contractors demolishing the school's old campus on 18th Street next to the new Downer Elementary accidentally ruptured the line about 8:30 a.m., said Jeff Edmison, a district associate superintendent.
The gas produced a noticeable smell in the area about 9 a.m., causing the principal at Downer to order students to shelter in place, said Wendell Greer, another associate superintendent. The practice entails gathering in a small room with few or no windows for protection against an outdoor contaminant.
"The children next door were never in danger," Edmison said.
PG&E crews clamped off the leaking pipe, which was ruptured when workers accidentally pulled the pipe beyond the shutoff valve while the foundation of the old school building was being removed. District officials have been demolishing the old campus for several days, and multiple crews are on the site, Edmison said.
Greer said the district planned to send home letters and conduct telephone notifications to parents Tuesday. School will be open Wednesday.
Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@bayareanewsgroup.com . Reach Kimberly S. Wetzel at 510-262-2798 or kwetzel@bayareanewsgroup.com .
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