Evacuations In Nashua Due To Broken High Pressure Gas Line

NASHUA, NH - Nashua Fire-Rescue was notified of a gas leak at the corner of Broad Street and Bailey Street. When they arrived they found a crew working on a Liberty utility gas line Wednesday.

The gas line was undergoing what the company referred to as "routine maintenance" at about 10:25 a.m. when for an unknown reason gas began to leak. The 6 inch main which also has a 2-inch main branching off was sending gas from the high-pressure line into the air.

Nashua Fire Rescue requested additional apparatus to the scene and had Nashua Police shut down Broad Street.

Due to the amount of gas leaking Nashua firefighters began to evacuate over 20 houses in the area.

Liberty Utilities arrived and attempted to shut down the gas line in several different locations on Broad Street. Several attempts failed at trying to shut down the gas using valves in the street.

Backhoes, dump trucks, and additional crews were brought in by the company and several different locations were dug up on Broad Street.

At 4:30 p.m.more than five hours after the leak started the high-pressure gas line was shut down according to NFR Deputy Chief Kerrigan. Kerrigan said about 65 homes were affected by the gas leak.

Crews were expected to work into the evening on Wednesday to continue the repairs to the pipe and valves.

No one was injured in the incident.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news