Two dead in Mountain View apartment where gas odor detected

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Two people were found dead in a Mountain View apartment complex where a strong gas odor led to evacuations and a shelter in place advisory in the area on Wednesday evening, a police spokeswoman said.

Officers responded to a report of a strong gas odor coming from an apartment complex at 2025 California St. shortly after 6 p.m., police spokeswoman Shino Tanaka said.

Arriving officers went to the scene, smelled the strong odor and called for residents at 2025 and 2017 California St. to evacuate, Tanaka said.

Four officers who were exposed to the gas were treated by medics at the scene and released, according to Tanaka.

Evacuees are advised to go to the community center at 201 S. Rengstorff Ave. where to seek assistance from the American Red Cross, police said.

Residents at 2035 California St. were told to shelter in place, Tanaka said.

Firefighters vented apartment buildings in the area and PG&E was called to turn off gas service, she said.

Fire crews found the gas was coming from a unit at 2025 California St. and waited until gas service was turned off to enter, according to Tanaka.

Once the gas dissipated and the scene was deemed safe to enter, fire crews went inside the unit to find two deceased victims, she said.

An investigation is ongoing and no further details were released Wednesday night.

Residents at 2025 and 2017 California St. were not allowed back in their homes Wednesday night. Fire crews estimate they may be allowed back in around 2:30 a.m. today, Tanaka said.

Tanaka said there were about 30 to 40 residents at the community center on Rengstorff Avenue on Wednesday night.