Gas Leak Prompts Downtown Evacuations in San Luis Obispo

Fire crews responded to a possible gas leak on Court Street, the third reported leak downtown in under a month.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Emergency Response

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a quiet brick building facade beside a utility pole on an empty street under overcast sky, evoking a municipal emergency. — San Luis Obispo fire crews responded Tuesday to a possible gas leak on Court Street, the third reported downtown in under a month, closing Monterey Street and evacuating the Anderson Hotel. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

San Luis Obispo City Fire Department responded to a possible gas leak along the 1000 block of Court Street shortly before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Monterey Street was closed from Osos Street to Morro Street, and residents of the Anderson Hotel were evacuated to the Ludwick Center.

Why it matters

This is at least the third reported gas leak downtown in less than a month, following incidents on Oct. 8 and Oct. 27, raising concern among San Luis Obispo residents and businesses about recurring safety risks in the city's core. Residents and visitors are being asked to avoid the affected area while crews respond.

Fire department responded shortly before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and confirmed the Monterey Street closure by 9:15 a.m., with this marking the third downtown gas leak reported in under a month. The size of the leak has not yet been determined by crews.

The players

San Luis Obispo City Fire Department

The municipal fire agency responsible for emergency response in the city of San Luis Obispo.

SoCalGas

Southern California Gas Company, the regional natural gas utility that a reporter contacted for information on the leaks.

The details

Crews from the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department are working to determine the size of the leak on the 1000 block of Court Street. Anderson Hotel residents were being evacuated and taken to the Ludwick Center while people were asked to avoid the area.

Oct. 8: Gas leak along the 700 block of Higuera Street.
Oct. 27: Gas leak prompted shelter-in-place notifications near the 900 block of Monterey Street.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, shortly before 8:30 a.m.: Fire department responded to the Court Street gas leak.

Seasonal Patterns

The Court Street leak extends a series of October downtown gas incidents in San Luis Obispo, following the Oct. 8 Higuera Street leak and the Oct. 27 Monterey Street shelter-in-place. Whether these reports reflect a broader pattern or isolated failures has not been established by available information.

Residents near Court Street and Monterey Street should avoid the closed area and follow instructions from responding crews. Those in the Anderson Hotel or nearby buildings should follow evacuation directions and report to the Ludwick Center if displaced.