Hundreds of people are returning home after a major gas leak in the city of Poway prompted an evacuation order early Friday.
The Poway Fire Department received a call at 9:48 a.m. about a construction crew that was digging and struck a 4-inch gas main near the intersection of Pomerado Road and Holland Road.
The gas line continued blowing until the leak was controlled at around 3:30 p.m., according to San Diego Gas and Electric.
According to a map from the sheriff's department, dozens of homes were within the large evacuation order zone.
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The fire department evacuated approximately 530 homes within a 2-mile perimeter around the leak.
The city sent a reverse 911 alert to homes in the area that were affected by the evacuation order.
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Impacted residents had the option to go to a temporary evacuation point at the Mesa View Baptist Church at 13230 Pomerado Rd., where there was water and air conditioning. A second evacuation point was available for animals at Old Poway Park.
The order was lifted just before 5 p.m., according to SDG&E. Repopulation started on the east side of Pomerado Road.
Road closures were still in effect after the evacuation order was lifted. Pomerado Road was closed from Leone Way to Vaughan Road. Powers Road and Frame Road were closed at Vaughan Road. Holland Road, Glenoak Road and Frame Road were also impacted.
SDG&E will go door to door and restore service — a process that might not completed by Friday night. The public utility company is advising residents not to relight the pilot light themselves and said employees would leave a callback number if residents are not home during the visit.
Approximately 430 customers were still without gas Saturday morning as crews continued finalizing repairs on the main line, SDG&E said. Repairs were completed at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Utility crews finished restoring gas service to customers at 11 p.m. Saturday. Residents who were not home during the visit are being advised to contact SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343.
The sheriff's department said SDG&E's twitter account will provide further updates on gas service restoration.
NBC7's Dana Williams contributed to this report.
