High Pressure Gas Line Damaged, Quick Action Followed

A contractor using a backhoe near the corner of North Ave. and Church Street damaged a high pressure gas line Thursday morning, causing a leak that stopped traffic and the nearby commuter rail for a short time.

Wakefield Fire Chief Michael Sullivan told Wakefield Patch that the call for the gas leak was received at 7:48 a.m. and that the department sent a full first alarm response led by Captain Paul Pronco. He added that the department was able to clear the scene at 8:26 a.m.

At the scene around 11 a.m., the odor of gas was still fairly strong in the area. Gene Sullivan, assistant general manager of the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Electric Dept., told Wakefield Patch that a third party contractor had apparently damaged the high pressure gas line while operating a backhoe. He added that the jet-like sound of the gas leak could be heard by workers at the utility's headquarters, a short distance away. About 26 local gas customers were expected to be temporarily affected by the incident, added Sullivan, also noting that police were already at the scene for traffic control.

Meanwhile, the Wakefield Fire Chief credited utility personnel for getting the gas shut off very quickly. Upon arrival, department personnel deployed hose lines in case of a gas explosion or in case the water vapor was needed to shift away gas fumes, he noted, adding it was also lucky that the contractor had apparently only nicked the high pressure line. "Thank God they didn't dig it up," he said.

MBTA Commuter rail service was disrupted for a short period. An MBTA spokeswoman told Wakefield Patch that two trains between North Station and Reading were delayed 15 minutes while another was delayed five minutes. Chief Sullivan said the trains were stopped because they could have been a potential ignition hazard for the gas fumes.

"It was something that could have been potentially very serious, but I'm happy with the way things turned out," said Chief Sullivan.