Evacuations lifted after Whittier gas leak

Dozens of Whittier homes evacuated due to gas leak

After being evacuated overnight, residents were allowed to return home.

WHITTIER, Calif. - Los Angeles County fire officials said 75 people were evacuated from their homes overnight following a natural gas leak in Whittier.

The leak was reported around 1:30 a.m. Thursday in the 7500 block of Coolhurst Drive, located near the intersection of Norwalk and Mines boulevards. Multiple residents called 911 reporting a strong smell of gas.

Once firefighters arrived at the scene, they began knocking on doors and evacuating people and their pets from 32 homes.

"They said there was a gas leak and I thought it was my house and I was like ‘Oh no, what’d I do?" a Whittier resident told FOX 11. "I hurried and got a couple of gowns on."

Some residents left with family members while others went to nearby Daniel Phelan Elementary School where the American Red Cross was assisting residents. School officials said classes were not impacted by the gas leak.

Officials later determined a three-inch pipe was leaking from three different points.

By 9 a.m., residents were allowed to return to their homes.

The cause of the gas leak remains under investigation.