Breaking: Gas Leak at the Wyndham Hotel

At approximately 7:37 AM April 19, 2016, Santa Monica Fire Department received word of a construction accident in front of the Wyndham Hotel, 100 block of the Colorado Esplanade. Construction workers using excavating equipment, ruptured a high pressure natural gas line near the Hotel.

The resulting gas leak spread through all floors of the adjacent Hotel, resulting in parts of all floors being briefly evacuated. 3 Engines, a Ladder Truck, a Hazardous Materials Unit, and a Battalion Chief Supervisor, all responded. Firefighters used Combustible Gas Meters, and ventilation measures to search for, and remove, hidden pockets of gas throughout the Hotel.

Ultimately Fire Department crews working with Southern California Gas, stemmed the flow of gas, and determined that reoccupation of the Hotel was safe. Fire Department crews were on scene working with utility company partners and the Santa Monica Police Department controlling traffic in the area, for a period of 3 hours.

No injuries to citizens, or Firefighters were reported.