PHOENIX — A hazmat situation reported Monday morning temporarily shut down the intersection of 27th and Northern Avenues.
Phoenix Police said a car crashed into and broke a gas main in front of a Quik Trip gas station.
First responders were already on scene attending to an unrelated car crash.
“Once I seen the firefighters ran, we ran too. We were like let’s go," Devon Williams said.
Williams told 12News he and his family were involved in the first crash and felt the break.
“You could smell it. You could feel it immediately once it hit you. Once he hit the thing, you could feel the pressure hit you immediately," Williams said.
Citizens were advised to stay at least half a mile away from the intersection in all directions, according to the Phoenix Fire Department.
The students and staff of Washington Elementary School evacuated to Palo Verde Middle School due to the situation. Some surrounding businesses were also evacuated.
“This is the type of gas that rises. It doesn’t sink down. So, it’s ventilating, naturally ventilating, up into the air. So, we don’t have any concerns of it migrating around to other places at this time," Phoenix Firefighter Shaun DuBois said.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Fuga de gas causa cierre de intersección en Phoenix y evacuación de una escuela
Southwest Gas issued the following statement:
Southwest Gas crews have responded to an incident that damaged the Company’s natural gas infrastructure at 27th and Northern Avenue in Phoenix. Ensuring the area is safe is our top priority, and our crews are coordinating with fire officials to secure the scene. Currently, gas is off, and we do not expect any impacts to service. Our customers can continue to safely rely on their natural gas service. We appreciate the swift response of first responders.
As of 1:45 p.m., the ruptured line has been secured.
Crews worked into the evening to repair the system.
The Phoenix Fire Department said firefighters have been testing the air quality in the surrounding area of the crash and have not found any detectable levels of gas.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
UP TO SPEED
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.