Deadly Maynard House Fire Caused By Gas Leak: Investigators Say

MAYNARD, MA — A vicious fire and explosion at a Maynard house that killed a man on Thursday, was caused by an underground gas line that leaked and ignited in a crawlspace in the basement, officials said Tuesday.

Crews responded to a report of a potential gas leak at 29 Park Street just after 4 p.m. on September 2.

When officers got to the building, they say they found a rapidly growing fire. When they investigated the basement, they say they found a man in his 60s dead inside.

The victim was not identified, and three first responders were sent to the hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.

Dozens of Eversource workers were on the scene Friday morning, and the Maynard Fire Department determined the gas line leak was from outside the home, which then spread and ignited in a basement crawl space near the front of the home.

The Maynard Fire Department said crews will continue to test supply lines throughout the town out of caution following the accidental fatal fire on Thursday. They added that testing will likely continue into next week.

In a Facebook post, the Department noted the approach from Eversource was precautionary, adding, "This is not the same type of problem that occurred in the Merrimack Valley," referring to the 2018 series of gas explosions that took place in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, killing one, injuring dozens and displacing thousands.

"On behalf of the Maynard Fire Department, I want to express our deepest condolences to the family as they mourn the loss of a loved one,” said Maynard Fire Chief Stowers. "This was an extremely fast-moving fire and it led to a terribly tragic event for them and for the town. It highlights the urgency of leaving the area of a potential gas leak and then reporting it quickly."

"As this fire demonstrated, it's important to treat a potential gas leak as you would a fire alarm," said State Fire Marshall Ostroskey. "Natural gas and propane are treated with a substance that has a distinctive odor that smells like rotten eggs. If you can smell it in your home, go outside to call 9-1-1 right away. Don’t smoke or use any electrical appliances, even a light switch or thermostat, because any spark could lead to an explosion."