Sunnyside Unified School District officials said the new guard house was being built in the school parking lot. Workers were using a trencher when they struck the gas line.
Police blocked off streets, and Apollo’s 800 students were evacuated.
Fire crews were on hand to contain the flames until Southwest Gas shut off the gas. Apollo students were evacuated to nearby Liberty Elementary School.
According to Southwest Gas, there is no record of the contractor contacting their Blue Stake service before digging to ensure that the crew knew where the gas line was. The line was repaired by the afternoon.