After more than 2,000 gallons of gasoline leaked into the sewer lines, homes in a section of Ventura were evacuated for hours on Sunday.
Evacuation orders and warning were issued around 10 a.m. Sunday and then lifted by 4:40 p.m. as city crews worked to mitigate the spill and ventilate the fumes building up in the system.
The source of the leak was a Sinclair gas station on Harbor Boulevard, authorities said at an afternoon press conference. The station owner estimated a loss of more than 2,000 gallons of gas leaked into the system.
About 150 homes in Ventura were ordered to evacuate Sunday due to the hazardous materials incident.
"When the gas is present it's like standing in a gas station right over your gas tank," said resident Rob Crandall. "It's very strong."