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# Gas leak near Arizona Avenue forces evacuations of offices and Promenade stores
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/052104-story/
- Published: 2004-05-21T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:21:52.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Promenade, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

ARIZONA AVENUE — A massive gas leak on Thursday forced the evacuation of an office building here and some stores. Authorities closed off the street to traffic and pedestrians.

At about 12:10 p.m., the Santa Monica Fire Department responded to a leak in the alley between the Third Street Promenade and Fourth Street, just north of Arizona Avenue.

It took gas company officials more than a hour to contain the leak, which was spewing 40 to 50 pounds per square inch of natural gas into the air. To compare the size of the leak, residential gas lines generate between one and two pounds per square inch, said SMFD Battalion Chief Kent Koble, who was the incident commander at the scene.

Authorities believe a UPS truck might have backed over the 1-inch gas line, which is located in the alley. Because the rupture occurred at the base of the line, gas company officials had to jackhammer part of the concrete to the valve, Koble said.

People in the offices at 301-311 Arizona Ave. were evacuated for about an hour, as well as some stores on the Promenade. The Santa Monica Police Department also responded to the scene.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 21, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/052104.pdf?ref=smdp.com)