Kevin Patridge, Fire Chief
413 Bay Road
South Easton, MA 02375
For Immediate Release
Friday, Aug. 3, 2018
Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net
Easton Fire Department Responds to Gas Leak at Maplewood Country Day Camp
EASTON — Chief Kevin Partridge reports that the Easton Fire Department responded to a gas leak at the Maplewood Country Day Camp Friday morning.
At approximately 11:20 a.m., the Easton Fire Department was notified of a gas leak at the camp, located at 150 Foundry St.
At the time, there were about 600 children and 200 employees on the camp property.
An initial investigation revealed that Columbia Gas workers were replacing an outdoor meter at the camp’s main building, when an excavator accidentally struck a two-and-a-quarter-inch gas line, causing the leak.
The building, which has offices, a gym and a cafeteria, was immediately evacuated.
Upon arrival, Chief Partridge ordered that all people at the camp move to the west side of the property as a safety precaution.
Columbia Gas workers located a nearby valve and shut off the gas to the leaking pipe. They are currently working to fix the pipe and complete their work on the meter.
By about 12:15 p.m., campers and staffers were allowed back into the building and to resume normal operations.
No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
“With the number of kids and staffers at the camp, it was important to keep them away from the leak and upwind from the fumes,” Chief Partridge said. “I am glad that Columbia Gas was able to quickly stop the leak and we had two engines on standby out of an abundance of caution.”
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