The Latest: Chemical leak in El Cajon under control

EL CAJON, Calif. – The Latest on a chemical leak that prompted precautionary evacuations in the city of El Cajon, east of San Diego (all times local).

12 p.m.

A Southern California fire official says evacuations in the city of El Cajon are being lifted after crews were able to close a valve on the tank of a hydrogen gas delivery truck.

Mark Casey of Heartland Fire & Rescue says there was a brief ignition like a “flash” after gas leaked out in the morning. There were no injuries or damage to buildings.

He says authorities were starting to re-open two blocks of businesses that were cordoned off. A nearby school district had bused out 150 students to be reunited with their parents as a precaution.

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11 a.m.

A Southern California fire official says hydrogen gas leaked from a delivery truck and ignited, prompting evacuations and the closure of two blocks of businesses in the city of El Cajon, east of San Diego.

Mark Casey of Heartland Fire & Rescue says the brief ignition was like a “flash” and there were no injuries or damage to buildings.

He says two blocks were cordoned off while hazardous material officials determine whether to let the truck’s tank vent out the gas.

The nearby Grossmont Union School District tweets that it bused out 150 students to be reunited with their parents.

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10 a.m.

Authorities in San Diego County are dealing with an explosion in an industrial area of El Cajon that has led to precautionary evacuations.

Heartland Fire & Rescue tweets that the explosion Wednesday morning involved hydrogen, and the area should be avoided for four hours.

Grossmont Union High School District spokeswoman Catherine Martin tweets that approximately 150 students in programs located on a nearby campus have been bused to Grossmont High School to be reunited with their parents.

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System says the incident is disrupting the Green and Orange trolley lines and buses will be brought in.