Lawrence Gas Leak 'Isolated' As Hundreds Return Home

LAWRENCE, MA — The majority of people will be able to return to their homes Friday after a major gas leak forced the evacuations of hundreds in South Lawrence, sparking fresh memories of the deadly gas explosions that rocked the Merrimack Valley just over a year ago.

People who live on South Broadway and Carver Street are not yet able to return, but they could be tonight, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera said at an afternoon press conference.

The source of the leak has been identified and isolated, officials said. It was found in a high-pressure gas line on Salem Street that was installed after last September's explosions.

Boston 25 reported a worker damaged the gas main when he mistook it for a water main.

"Currently there is no public safety concerns around gas, this is an isolated incident," Rivera said.

No injuries were reported as of 1 p.m. Friday. About 150 homes and businesses were evacuated, officials said. Some of the businesses that were forced to close were the same ones that were out of business for months after last September's explosions.

"I will say that Columbia Gas staff and leadership have been responsive in this process," Rivera said.

The state is monitoring Columbia Gas, and Eversource has been called in to provide "neutral aid," Gov. Charlie Baker said.

Nearly 1,400 people were without power this morning, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. That number was down to about 600 by midday.

The leak, which occurred on Salem Street near South Broadway, was first noticed around 3:15 a.m. It was was not related to another small gas issue Friday morning at Lennox Circle, according to Rivera.

The Weatherbee School and Lawrence Catholic Academy were closed. Arlington Middle School was set up as an evacuation point.

The chaos hours before Lawrence High School sent students home for the day following a threat. Rivera said the threat was unfounded.

"There is a confirmed level one gas leak in South Lawrence," Rivera said in a statement after 6 a.m. "City of Lawrence Fire and Police have responded to the gas leak immediately. Evacuations have begun."

Columbia Gas said the high-pressure gas line that ruptured is new, installed after the deadly gas explosions across Lawrence, Andover and North Andover last year. One person was killed in the Sept. 13, 2018, explosions that damaged or destroyed more than 130 buildings. Thousands of people were forced into temporary housing for months.

Friday's leak does not pose any threat to neighboring Andover, Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said.

Friday's leak prompted outrage among some officials, including Sen. Ed Markey.

"...we need to know how a major leak in the same area could have happened just a year after the @ColumbiaGasMA disaster," he tweeted.

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