A gas leak was detected on the Bakersfield College campus by Amber Chiang, director of marketing and public relations, in front of the Campus Center, in the grassy area next to the Student Services Building, Oct. 29, around 11:58 a.m.
“I was actually working with Univision to shoot our new Spanish-language commercial,” said Chiang. “I could smell it. It smelled like it was coming up from the dirt, and I was concerned, so I called Public Safety.”
According to Chiang, Public Safety responded promptly to the scene. BC’s Maintenance and Operations and the Bakersfield Fire Department responded as well.
The gas was turned off to most of the campus at approximately 3 p.m., after the leak was confirmed and located by PG&E.
While most of the campus was unaffected, the cafeteria was closed Oct. 30-31.
“Because the temperatures have been so mild, it didn’t affect any heating or cooling,” said Chiang. “It did affect our food services in the cafeteria area, because they didn’t have the gas to have hot water, to wash dishes with.”
Chiang said that it affected the chemistry labs, but that they were able to switch to another type of fuel. The athletics department went without hot showers and the pool wasn’t heated.
While most BC students were unaware of the gas leak, many felt inconvenienced by the cafeteria being closed.
Anastasia Jones said, “I thought it was closed because of Halloween.”
Brenda Cruz, business administration major, said, “Yes, it does affect me. I’m starving! I spend from $5 to $6 a day in the cafeteria. I can’t go anywhere because I don’t have any time.”
According to Tim Carroll, manager of maintenance and operations, the gas line that was leaking was “abandoned” when the BC library was annexed in the ’70s, even though it was still pressurized with gas.
In order to fix the leak, Slater Plumbing Inc. capped the retired gas line where it branches off to the cafeteria.
Repairs were completed Oct. 31.