Three schools in Richmond close due to gas leak

About 2,400 students at Richmond High, Peres Elementary and Ford Elementary in Richmond were sent home Monday due to a gas leak following the weekend’s heavy storms.

The schools are expected to reopen Tuesday, said West Contra Costa Unified spokesman Ryan Phillips.

While the gas leak was what prompted the school evacuations, flaring from the Chevron refinery had sent flames, smoke and foul odors into the air in west Contra Costa County, the Bay Area News Group reported Sunday.