Natural Gas Leak Discovered by Dog Walker

At 11:30AM, a dog walker called Marblehead 911 to report the smell of natural gas in the air. The Marblehead Fire Department and National Grid responded, finding dangerously high readings during an investigation.

According to the Marblehead Police Department, "The readings were high enough that additional fire crews were brought into the scene and a hydrant line was hooked to one of the fire engines and a multitude of National Grid workers and managers responded to the scene."

Several homes on Philips, Longfellow, Orchard and Locust Streets were evacuated. The roads in the area were closed including to pedestrians. Marblehead Municipal Electric Light Department crews also respond and power to the neighborhood was shut down as a precaution.

Two homes were directly affected by the leak, and were ventilated by National Grid, according to the police department. Power was restored at 1:30pm, and residents able to return to their homes. National Grid personnel continue to work on Orchard Street, but the police department has said that "the danger has passed." There were no injuries.