By Mary Manning (contact)

Published Thu, Jan 8, 2009 (10:28 a.m.)

Updated Thu, Jan 8, 2009 (10:34 a.m.)

A natural gas leak this morning has closed a daycare center and interrupted service and traffic in the southeast Las Vegas Valley.

The leak occurred in the area of Reno and Hacienda avenues.

Southwest Gas Corp. spokeswoman Sonya Headen said that repair crews are trying to determine the source of the leak. At this time no customers are without natural gas, but as repair work progresses the fuel may be stopped.

About 1,500 customers in an area bordering Flamingo Road on the north, Maryland Parkway on the west, Hacienda on the south and Pecos Road on the east will lose natural gas supplies while repair work continues, Headen said.

"The crews are working to restore service as safely and quickly as possible," Headen said.

The Cinderella Day School's 14 children were sent to Sunset Park at Sunset Road and Eastern Avenue to meet their parents, Headen said. The evacuation was undertaken by the school, she said.

The Clark County Fire Department ordered traffic diverted in the area of Eastern Avenue and Russell Road.

Traffic will be "most likely" disrupted in the area affected by the leak while repairs are underway, Headen said.

There were no details on the size of the gas pipeline affected.