Deadline Approaches For Porter Ranch Residents To Return Home

PORTER RANCH (CBSLA.com) — Porter Ranch-area residents will protest Friday in response to a fast moving deadline issued by Southern California Gas Company for displaced families to move home after weeks spent living in temporary housing.

Members of Save Porter Ranch plan to stage a rally at Tampa Avenue and Rinaldi Street, arguing they don't feel safe returning to their homes unless the entire natural gas storage field by SoCal Gas Co. is closed.

According to SoCal Gas Co., more than 4,000 households have been living in temporary housing at the company's expense for the past four months.

Residents have eight days to return to their homes. Anyone who is currently living in temporary housing with extended leases will have until the lease runs out to return home.

On Thursday, officials announced the leak was capped.

California Air Resources Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District also confirmed the flow of natural gas has stopped and air quality in the area has returned to normal levels.

Meanwhile, the city of Los Angeles will open a community resources office in the Chatsworth area to assist residents returning to their homes.

The center -- located in the Youth Center Building of the Mason Recreation Center at 10520 Mason Avenue -- will provide information about refunds for city services, updates from the county assessor about possible impacts on tax bills, disaster relief for businesses and access to mental health services.

The facility will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

The massive natural gas leak was originally reported on Oct. 23, 2015, at the company's Aliso Canyon storage facility.