Residents were evacuated once again by emergency crews on Saturday after a new gas leak was reported in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Workers immediately reported to the area of Salem and Broadway streets after residents reported seeing and smelling gas coming from storm drains in the morning hours.
“These gas lines are on Columbia Gas Company,” officials at Eversource said. “Crews are working to make the area of Main Street and Broadway Street in Lawrence safe.”
Gas leak scare unrelated
This latest gas leak scare comes days after roughly 70 Merrimack Valley homes and businesses were destroyed in gas-fueled fires and explosions on Thursday evening, per NY Post.
It was later determined that the gas leak on Saturday is unrelated to the explosions that occurred days prior in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence.
The Thursday night explosions left more than 8,000 Columbia Gas customers and residents without power and terrified after explosions began to spring up all over the valley due to leaks.
The National Transportation Safety Board has announced that the gas explosions have determined to be unintentional in nature as they continue to investigate.
On Friday, Governor Charlie Baker appointed Eversource in charge of restoring residents’ service after Columbia Gas failed to assemble a solid plan. Baker also declared a state of emergency in the wake of the gas leak explosions.
Residents return home
On Sunday, residents were told they could return to their homes anytime after 7 a.m. Many where left homeless with no place to go, resorting to emergency shelters where they stayed for several days.
Emergency officials asked residents to check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, keep an eye out for anything suspicious and report it immediately.
WHEN YOU RETURN HOME:
✅ If you use a grill to cook, use it 10-feet away from the house.
✅ Use extension cords safely. Do not overload.
✅ Make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are working. #FireSafety @MassEMA @MassDFS pic.twitter.com/Y2cQPW63VK
— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) September 16, 2018
