HALLOWELL — A gas leak caused by an excavator removing snow at Hall-Dale Elementary School forced workers and firefighters to evacuate the immediate area and leave the school building without heat for part of Saturday.
The leak, reported around 3 a.m. Saturday, was repaired by 2 p.m., and heat was restored to the building, which relies on natural gas for heat.
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Capt. Aaron Selwood, of Hallowell Fire Department, said the building itself appeared to be undamaged.
He said a local contractor hired to help remove snow at the school accidentally hit a pipe which protrudes out of the ground at the rear of the school near the gym to bring natural gas through a meter and into the school building.
Firefighters responded, and Selwood said they could smell gas driving down the school’s driveway, which is off Winthrop Street. Firefighters and workers evacuated the school property and contacted Summit Natural Gas of Maine, the operator of the gas line. No area homes were evacuated, just the immediate area around the leak.
Selwood said workers tried shutting off the gas where it came into the school, but were unable to because the pipe was broken off.
Summit workers were able to track down the underground gas main leading into the school property and turn the gas off out by the entrance to the school after removing snow and ice from the ground above it.
Police and firefighters were on the scene for about two hours, leaving after the gas was shut off.
Summit workers and the company’s contractor remained to fix the leak and restore gas service to the school.
Michael Duguay, director of business development for Summit, said Summit’s technicians arrived within a half hour of being contacted, immediately turned off the gas and called in a contractor to make the repairs. He said the leak was fixed, gas service restored and heat returned to the building by around 2 p.m Saturday.
“It is unfortunate the incident occurred, but the protocol appeared to be followed by the customer, which allowed us to respond as quickly as we did,” Duguay said. “There was no other damage, just the service line. Once it was repaired, gas service resumed. The school has heat.”
Regional School Unit 2 Superintendent Virgel Hammonds confirmed Saturday the gas leak was fixed and heat was returned to the school.
Keith Edwards — 621-5647
kedwards@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @kedwardskj
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