Firefighters evacuated a strip mall in Middleborough, Massachusetts on Wednesday after strong odors of natural gas.According to Middleborough Fire Chief Owen F. Thompson, crews received a 911 call around 12:05 p.m. about a heavy odor of gas in the Hannaford Supermarket parking lot at 10 Merchants Way.The area holds several different businesses.Upon arrival, emergency crews said they could smell the heavy odor of natural gas in the parking lot, as well as inside both Hannaford’s Supermarket and Aubuchon Ace Hardware.”Based on the levels of natural gas inside the structures, all the stores in the strip mall were evacuated,” said Chief Thompson. “Our crews located a gas meter at the rear of the building that had been dislodged from the supply line coming from the ground.”There were no reports of any injuries.Crews safely shut the gas line down and ventilated the buildings.Middleborough Gas and Electric also responded to secure the supply line and meter.Investigators believe a snowplow likely dislodged the line from the ground.”We were extremely fortunate in this situation,” Chief Thompson said. “The levels of gas in the hardware store were well into the explosive range, and we were able to evacuate and ventilate without any significant issues.”Officials are reminding residents to call 911 if they detect heavy odors of gas.
Firefighters evacuated a strip mall in Middleborough, Massachusetts on Wednesday after strong odors of natural gas.
According to Middleborough Fire Chief Owen F. Thompson, crews received a 911 call around 12:05 p.m. about a heavy odor of gas in the Hannaford Supermarket parking lot at 10 Merchants Way.
The area holds several different businesses.
Upon arrival, emergency crews said they could smell the heavy odor of natural gas in the parking lot, as well as inside both Hannaford’s Supermarket and Aubuchon Ace Hardware.
“Based on the levels of natural gas inside the structures, all the stores in the strip mall were evacuated,” said Chief Thompson. “Our crews located a gas meter at the rear of the building that had been dislodged from the supply line coming from the ground.”
There were no reports of any injuries.
Crews safely shut the gas line down and ventilated the buildings.
Middleborough Gas and Electric also responded to secure the supply line and meter.
Investigators believe a snowplow likely dislodged the line from the ground.
“We were extremely fortunate in this situation,” Chief Thompson said. “The levels of gas in the hardware store were well into the explosive range, and we were able to evacuate and ventilate without any significant issues.”
Officials are reminding residents to call 911 if they detect heavy odors of gas.