Firefighters respond to a gas leak in Oakland, buildings evacuated

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Fire Department evacuated about 50 people from commercial buildings in the Jack London Square area after a gas leak on Tuesday, officials said. 

The fire department called it a "compressed natural gas leak" at the CNG natural gas plant. 

At 5:24 p.m., fire officials said they responded to 2nd Street between Market and Brush Streets. Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington said they received a call about natural gas odor at around 4:30 p.m. He said the fire department's hazmat team responded. 

In a statement, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said Pacific Gas and Electric arrived to the scene and was able to shut down the main gas line. All evacuation orders have since been lifted.  

The fire department said a three to four block radius had to be closed to traffic and pedestrians from Embarcadero West to 3rd Street along Martin Luther King and Embarcadero West to 3rd Street along Market Street. 

As many as four buildings had to be evacuated, the fire department said.  

Capitol Corridor said all rail tracks were closed near their Oakland Jack London Square train station due to the gas leak. Amtrak and Southern Pacific train traffic was temporarily halted. Service has since resumed. 

The transportation agency thanked passengers for their patience and said they would provide updates as they become available.