Gas leak causes evacuations at Costa Mesa businesses

About 15 people were evacuated from nearby businesses as a precaution Wednesday afternoon because of a gas leak near 18th Street and Whittier Avenue in Costa Mesa, according to fire officials.

Work crews for the Mesa Water District using a backhoe accidentally punctured the line at about 2:30 p.m., Costa Mesa Deputy Fire Chief Fred Seguin said.

Crews from Southern California Gas Co. were on the scene by about 4:30 p.m. and began digging so they could pinch off the line, according to the Fire Department.

Work was continuing Wednesday evening.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck