Clouds of dirt kicked into the air from the gas leaking out of the ruptured line / KNN News
Los Angeles, California – Traffic on one of California’s busiest freeways slammed to a halt Saturday afternoon when a pressurized natural gas pipeline burst underneath Castaic, just north of Los Angeles—forcing more than 19,000 locals to hunker down indoors. The dramatic shutdown unfolded around 4:20 p.m., according to L.A. County Fire, when reports of a thunderous bang and a powerful gas stench flooded in from the area near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place, a stone’s throw from North Park Elementary.
Dust and debris shot skyward as gas hissed from the 34-inch “transmission” main, casting an eerie scene only yards away from the 5 Freeway—Southern California’s main north-south lifeline that stretches clear to Canada. Drivers were stuck for hours, and authorities wasted no time, sealing off the freeway and ordering residents to shelter in place across a one-mile radius till just before 10 p.m.
Mystery still surrounds exactly what blew the pipeline. Deputies from the LA County Sheriff’s Department told CBS LA a mudslide might have triggered the rupture, while SoCalGas crews scrambled to clamp off the leak. Fire Captain Brian Knight explained emergency teams had to wait for SoCalGas to cut the gas at the source before launching their probe. ‘Significant land movement’ was observed near the epicenter, but—fortunately—no flames or fireballs ever erupted, officials reassured.
SoCalGas managed to isolate the blown section, and once any lingering gas was safely vented, teams planned a full inspection and repairs. The 600 psi line moves gas, but doesn’t directly serve homes or businesses in the area, so most folks kept their power—except for five commercial customers currently left without service.
Evacuation wasn’t needed, but Castaic residents were ordered to lay low for hours, as sky-high dirt plumes marked the site of this shocking scare. By Saturday night, the worst threat had passed, but authorities were still piecing together how the ground gave way under this crucial pipeline.
