Watch CBS News

Chemicals Spewing From Gas Leak Near Porter Ranch Might Force Residents From Homes

PORTER RANCH (CBSLA.com) — Chemicals that continue to spew from a gas leak near Porter Ranch might force residents out of their homes.

The Health Department is telling the gas company to help the families as soon as possible.

Natural gas has been leaking in the Aliso Canyon area for about a month.

KCAL9's Tom Wait went to the area to speak to frustrated homeowners.

Nina Miresky told Wait her Porter Ranch home of 28 years has been invaded by powerful fumes coming from the nearby well owned by SoCal Gas.

The powerful odor has swept through the area, and the smell has become so so strong, Miresky asked SoCal Gas to relocate her to a hotel.

"I've requested it. And I have been told no," Miresky said.

But Wait reports that the LA County Health Department has issued a directive to SoCal Gas to temporarily relocate Porter Ranch residents like Miresky who want to leave, free of charge.

"Hearing that, we could go to a hotel for a while. They have to keep us there for a long time," she says.

The directive does not layout any guidelines about who can be moved or  for how long. SoCal gas says they are complying and have been offering residents free lodging in hotels since the well started leaking. They say it's as simple as going to their we site and clicking on the Aliso Canyon update.

Some people told Wait that even if they can move for a short time, that's not going to fix the problem.

"What happens when you go to sell your house? All you got to do is Google this and then you're going to figure out there's a bigger problem," said resident Chuck Stein.

SoCal Gas is not sure what caused the leak. The Health Department says the chemicals in the gas that allows us to smell it do pose a threat, and those chemicals have the potential cause short-term neurological, gastrointestinal and respiratory issues.

On Thursday evening, the gas company said they have no timeline as to when the leak will be fixed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.