FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPOND TO GAS LEAK
PRESS RELEASE
For further information contact:
Fire Marshal John Manuele
603-424-3690
Merrimack Fire Rescue responds to multiple major emergencies on Friday evening.
On Friday March 6, 2015 at 5:20 PM the Merrimack Fire Department was dispatched to a building under construction at 4 Dobson Way for a reported gas leak. Merrimack Engine 1, Engine 2, Ambulance 1 and Chief Currier responded. Upon arrival it was determined that a 1 inch high pressure natural gas line had been sheared of by a worker attempting to move a man-lift from the rear of the building. Due to the size of the leak Chief Currier ordered an evacuation of the Convenient MD building at 2 Dobson Way, the State Liquor Store Plaza at 6 Dobson Way and all the homes on Sherwood Lane adjacent to Dobson Way. Merrimack Fire and Police personnel began an immediate quarantine of the area and started the evacuation. A full emergency dispatch was ordered to bring in off duty personnel and mutual aid was requested from the NH State Police, and the Manchester and Nashua Fire Departments. Liberty Utilities was requested to the scene. The Merrimack and State Police Departments closed portions of Camp Sargent Road and Dobson Way and directed traffic around the scene. Crews began air monitoring and it was decided to disperse the gas plume using a water spray to prevent the possibility of an explosion. Assistant Chief Borneman, Fire Marshal Manuele, Merrimack Rescue 1 and a Nashua Engine and Ladder arrived on scene. Fire crews entered the Dobson Way buildings and turned of all heating systems to lessen the chance of an explosion. Air monitoring was continued and it was determined that no further areas would need to be evacuated. Several crews. from Liberty Utilities arrived on scene and determined that the break would need to be shut down by closing an underground valve feeding 2, 4 and 6 Dobson Way. Due to the large amount of snow it was difficult to find the valve and the gas was not shut down until 6:59 PM. At that point all buildings were checked for gas and 4 Dobson Way was ventilated due to high gas readings. Crews began clearing the scene at 7:15 PM. Merrimack DPW was requested to the scene to sand the area due to ice buildup on the roadway.. Liberty Utilities personnel capped the broken line and restarted all building heating systems after performing a final leak check and turning the gas back on All Merrimack Fire Units cleared the scene at 8:15 PM and Mutual aid units from Manchester and Nashua were released.
At 8 29 PM Merrimack Engine 1 was dispatched to a reported car fire at 23 Hillside Terrace. Upon arrival Captain Dubriel found a fully involved ServiceMaster box truck in close proximity to a home and requested a full fire dispatch. Engine 2, Ambulance 1, Chief Currier and Fire Marshal Manuele responded to the scene. Fire personnel made an aggressive attack and the fire was fully extinguished by 8:51. The fire was determined to have been caused by a mechanical failure of a gas powered water vacuum unit that was being used to remove water caused by ice dams from the home. The rear portion of the truck was a total loss. The scene was cleared at 9:49 PM.
While crews were overhauling the Hillside Terrace scene another call was received for a strong electrical burning odor in a home at 45 Springfield Circle. Merrimack Engine 4 was dispatched and Engine 2 and Ambulance 1 were released from the Hillside Terrace fire scene. Mutual aid was also requested from Amherst. Arriving crews investigated and determined that the smell was caused by a malfunction in the homes heating system. All crews cleared the scene by 9:30 PM.
For further information contact the Merrimack Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal.