Gas Leak at Pinkerton Academy

Derry firefighters responded to a gas leak at Pinkerton Academy on Thursday afternoon.

At 2:04 p.m., Derry firefighters were called to the school after a large piece of ice and snow fell off the bell tower and struck a gas meter, causing a gas leak. Pinkerton Academy staff said they heard the ice fall off the roof, followed by a load bang when it hit the meter. Staff then immediately smelled gas and initiated their emergency plan.

"Pinkerton Academy did a superb job evacuating the Pinkerton Building, the adjacent Shepard Building and Saltmarsh Library, and relocating buses from the area in front of the Pinkerton Building," Derry Fire Battalion Chief Jack Webb said.

At no time were any students or staff at risk. This incident occurred a few minutes before the end of the school day. 

Derry Fire crews responded, found and shut off the damaged gas meter, and then checked the inside of the Pinkerton Building for any residual natural gas. After 20 minutes, Pinkerton Academy was able to return to normal operations, and the gas company was called to repair the meter.