[Update: Good News] Downtown Ukiah Evacuated After Contractor Strikes Gas Main
Stock photo by Rose Galloway Green on Unsplash
For the second time in four days, emergency personnel responded to a major gas leak in downtown Ukiah, prompting evacuations and road closures on Monday afternoon. This latest incident was reported at approximately 1:52 p.m. on Monday, July 14, when a construction crew struck a six-inch gas main while grading the roadway near North Main and Smith streets.
Ukiah Police and Fire, along with PG&E, initiated evacuations spanning several blocks, including the 100–300 blocks of North Main Street and portions of South Main, extending from Norton to Perkins streets and from State Street to Main. The evacuation zone expanded over the next hour, with officials requesting assistance clearing apartment buildings and businesses along Main and Standley streets.
PG&E spokesperson Megan McFarland confirmed the leak and stated that a third-party contractor, Ghilotti Construction, was responsible for striking the gas line while performing road work in the area. “It is a complicated repair,” McFarland said around 4:30 p.m. “We’re bringing in extra resources. It will be a couple of hours at least.” She explained that crews need to dig up three separate isolation points to shut off the flow and safely begin repairs.
A City of Ukiah representative said evacuations are currently expected to remain in place until 10 p.m. tonight, though that timeline may change. Residents are encouraged to follow the City of Ukiah Facebook page for real-time updates. An evacuation center has been established at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center, 200 South School Street, offering cooling, water, restrooms, and Wi-Fi for those affected.
This follows a similar incident on Friday, July 11, when Ghilotti reportedly struck a smaller two-inch line near the Mendocino County Library. That leak was resolved quickly, but it required evacuations and temporarily closed the library.
Residents are asked to avoid the area while emergency personnel and utility workers continue to secure the scene and begin the repair process.
Earlier: [Update] Ukiah Library Evacuated After Gas Leak Reported
Update: According to the City of Ukiah’s Facebook page, the evacuation orders were lifted at 7:58 p.m.
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Time to get real contractors
Maybe quit taking the lowest bid from Ghilotti. They seem to have a hard time doing good work, as other streets they’ve done break down quick. It’s a hot day and I can’t imagine how disruptive this is to businesses in the evacuated area.
Most likely inadaquate marking by utility co.
Nobody wants to hit a gas main.
City of Ukiah
“These gas lines that were hit, both today and last Friday, were unmarked/unknown to PG&E. We are coordinating with PG&E to avoid additional mishaps as this project continues.”
Neener, neener, Told you so!
“unmarked/unknown to PG&E”
and therefore unmaintained…Should we worry?
San Bruno pipeline explosion https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bruno_pipeline_explosion
Ghilotti has been around since 1914.
There are lots of laws to cover this sort of excavation, pretty sure that they ‘called ahead’ and and probably there were lots of surveys and markings conducted.
I am also pretty sure that the underground location of the gas mains was er… ‘poorly known’. Somebody, somewhere is ‘on the carpet’ to explain what happened.
They may need (and probably will) to go to an alternative excavation method.
Probably Vacuum Trucks. Expensive to do for a large excavation.
But given the double gas line contacts… probably worth it.
“Call before you dig” ?
Time for the city to stop contracting with a crap company, instead of being short-sighted.
I don’t mean to be petty, however, the photo is a water main. Any contractor would know that.
Many lines are not color coded
However if any line is identified by color it will be identified by a standard color code as follows:
These color codes are used by utility companies and construction crews to identify underground utilities and ensure safety during excavation and other work.
https://www.graservices.com/universal-color-code-for-underground-utility-lines
Twice? Time to hire a different contractor.
Spot on. Don’t give them a third chance to blow up Ukiah…
But think of all the jobs rebuilding it. And it will certainly look better…
Disclaimer: I have spent many hours in Ukiah not really enjoying that place…or it’s people
Except for Stars restaurant. Large portions and very good, helpful servers.
Can get a bit busy at normal mealtimes, but it is worth it!
Yes, that would create plenty of jobs but the folks in their Ukiah homes might not enjoy being blown up.
Jumping to conclusions does absolutely no good and is often wrong, such as this case. PG&E who owns and utilizes the gas mains in BOTH incidences did not mark nor even know the lines were there.
Fault lies with PG&E not the contractor.
Pacific Graft and Extortion is a proven killer.
I want to know when people are going to wake up and start holding PG&E accountable for their negligence?
Pffft. When you are a monopoly, and own the board that is supposed to hold you accountable (and keep rates affordable for the public), you can get away with just about anything. Remember the San Bruno gas explosions?
Indeed.
Seems reasonable that the gas supplier would monitor any excavations.
Unfortunately, in this case, PG&E didn’t know the line was there.
Just would have added another ‘surprised’ face… look you’ve hit a gas line !
Probably happened long ago, lost records, an engineering/surveying mistake… etc.
Who was monitoring the dig? I sure as heck wouldn’t start digging without direction. Good way to get killed.