San Fernando Valley businesses evacuated for possible gas leak

Firefighters evacuated several businesses in the 6800 block of Coldwater Canyon on Monday afternoon as they investigated a possible broken utility line that was leaking natural gas, fire authorities said.

Emergency responders were called to the north San Fernando Valley location about 10 a.m. and decided to evacuate nearby shops as a precaution, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Matt Spence said.

No injuries have been reported but street closures were expected to continue for several hours as utility company workers attempted to locate and cap the line, he said.

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Photo: Southern California Gas Co. workers respond to a suspected line break at the intersection of Vanowen Street and Coldwater Canyon Avenue in Van Nuys. Credit: Christina House / Los Angeles Times