5 Freeway Reopens in Castaic After Gas Leak; Investigation Ongoing, SoCalGas Reports

The 5 Freeway in Castaic, California, has reopened after a natural gas leak led to a major shutdown of all lanes. The incident occurred on Saturday, just before 4:30 PM, and caused significant traffic delays for drivers in the region.

Incident Overview

The leak originated from a 34-inch transmission line near the intersection of Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place, just east of the southbound lanes of the freeway. Fire officials stated that they confirmed there were no signs of ignition or explosion following the incident. The leak was successfully contained late Saturday night, according to a SoCalGas spokesperson.

Investigation Underway

As the investigation continues, officials are exploring potential causes of the gas leak. While early assessments suggest that land movement was not a contributing factor, SoCalGas acknowledged recent land shifts due to weather conditions could be relevant. They noted that the cause of the pipe’s failure remains under review.

• Incident reported: Saturday, 4:30 PM.
• Type of leak: From a 34-inch transmission line.
• Emergency response: Crews isolated the damaged pipeline section.
• Traffic impact: Major delays for drivers for nearly three hours.
• Communities affected: Charley Canyon, Hillcrest, and Wayside.
• Total residents in impacted area: Approximately 14,900.

Public Safety Measures

No public danger was reported as of Sunday morning, and no injuries were recorded. A temporary shelter-in-place order was issued for nearby communities but lifted around 10 PM on Saturday. Fire officials observed that gas dispersal patterns showed that winds had carried the gas smell towards communities like Santa Clarita.

Historical Context

The recent gas leak has drawn concerns reminiscent of the 2015 Aliso Canyon incident. That leak became the largest in U.S. history, releasing 97,000 tons of gases and significantly impacting nearby communities. Many residents continue to feel the repercussions of that event.

Officials confirmed that the current leak’s pipeline was under immense pressure when it failed, resulting in a forceful gas release that stirred up debris in the surrounding area. As crews work to vent the remaining natural gas safely, repairs will commence once conditions allow.