Utility officials pledged to find the cause of a natural gas fire in the street that forced the closure of the Cirby-Way-Riverside Avenue intersection in Roseville.
The fire has been extinguished but the investigation into what caused the flames to lick through cracks in the roadway still has to be undertaken.
"We are committed to doing a thorough investigation into how and why this fire took place," said PG&E spokeswoman Nicole Liebelt. "Because the investigation has not yet begun, a cause has not been determined."
Roads are now open where the fire occurred.
The Roseville Fire Department responded about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to the gas fire in the middle of the intersection that burned brightly through on the asphalt.
Fire officials said they believed there was a break in a 4-inch natural gas line underneath the intersection.
No injuries were reported, and Pacific Gas & Electric crews arrived Tuesday night to assess the situation and begin repairs. Utility crews finished up their work this morning.
Liebelt, at the scene of the repairs this morning, said workers pinched off the gas line on either side of the leak.
"We dug two holes on both sides of the leak and fire," said Liebelt. "That was so we could isolate the gas fire and pinch it off. That was completed at 2 a.m."
The utility plans to eventually replace the portion of the pipeline where the leak occurred. That will occur in the coming weeks, Liebelt said.
The holes dug to pinch off the gas were filled and paved.
The intersection is in the midst of a commercial district. About 20 business customers were initially evacuated, but they are able to return this morning and have re-routed gas service.
"The area is safe," said Liebelt.
Residents of Live Oak Circle, northeast of the intersection, said that before the fire was put out, flames appeared to be about 10 feet high and were concentrated in the area of the apparent leak.
A gas leak occurred in the area about a year ago in the street.
"We do have information that there was a gas leak in the general vicinity about 12 months ago," said Liebelt. "It was about 150 feet away from yesterday's location. We certainly understand the community's concern with that. That will be part of our investigation to see if it was related to what occurred yesterday."
Liebelt said the cause of last year's leak was a cracked plastic pipe. She did not know what caused the pipe to crack.
KCRA: Crews clean up after Roseville street fire - Sept. 28. 2011
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