Gas Line Break Forces Evacuations in Mesa; Business Owner Says It’s Second Incident in Two Days

By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent

iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published August 28th, 2026

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MESA, Ariz. — Several homes and a Mesa business were evacuated Friday after a gas line was reportedly struck near East Broadway Road and South Lazona Drive, sending a strong odor of natural gas through the surrounding area.

The incident happened near E. Broadway Road and S. Lazona Drive in Mesa, where a reported 3¼-inch gas line was struck, creating an audible hissing sound and a heavy smell of natural gas.

Mesa Police and Mesa Fire and Medical responded to the scene, along with a battalion chief. City of Mesa Gas crews were also dispatched to address the damaged line.

As a precaution, approximately four to five nearby homes were evacuated due to the potential danger posed by the leak.

Spirit Wine Store, located near the incident, was also evacuated after a strong gas odor was reported inside the business.

Broadway Road Shut Down for Several Hours

The gas leak also caused a significant traffic disruption through the area.

Mesa Police shut down all eastbound and westbound lanes of Broadway Road for several hours while emergency crews worked to secure the scene and City of Mesa Gas crews responded to the damaged line.

The closure prevented traffic from traveling through the affected portion of Broadway Road near Lazona Drive as crews worked around the active gas leak.

iSkyNews.com spoke with the owner of Spirit Wine Store, who said the latest gas leak is taking a toll on his business.

According to the owner, this is the second time in two days that a gas-related incident in the area has affected his business, forcing another disruption Friday.

He told iSkyNews.com the repeated incidents are hurting his business, particularly when evacuations and road closures prevent customers from reaching the store.

When iSkyNews.com reporters arrived on scene, the distinctive rotten-egg odor associated with natural gas was extremely strong throughout the immediate area.

One nearby resident told iSkyNews.com the odor became so overwhelming that it filled his home and could even be smelled coming through the drains.

The resident described the smell as so severe that he said roaches were coming out of the drains while the odor lingered inside his home.

The rotten-egg smell commonly associated with a natural gas leak comes from an odorant added to natural gas to make leaks easier to detect.

Emergency crews remained focused on securing the damaged line and protecting nearby homes and businesses.

Anyone who smells natural gas should leave the immediate area, avoid flames or anything that could create a spark, and report the suspected leak to emergency officials or the gas utility.

This is a developing story. iSkyNews.com will provide additional information as it becomes available.

Source: iSkyNews.com reporting from the scene and information gathered during the emergency response in Mesa.

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