Firefighters Battle Gas Line Fire on Westfair Drive Friday

The following is a press release from the Westport Fire Department: 

This morning at 10:30 a.m., Engine Company No. 2 of the Westport Fire Department was driving along Post Road East when it was flagged down by workers from a private construction company working on a natural gas line in the roadway on Westfair Drive.  They had been working on a 2-in. high pressure natural gas line in the street which developed a leak and erupted in a fireball approximately 20 feet in diameter.

The crew summoned additional fire units and began immediate evacuation of nearby buildings. As additional units arrived 2.5 inch hose lines were stretched from Engine 2 and Engine 5 working off hydrants on Westfair Drive and Fairport Road to protect structures, vehicles and trees exposed to the fire.  Several trees and a pickup truck and the construction crew’s tools had been damaged by the fire.

Southern Connecticut Gas was requested for an emergency response to shut down the gas and Westport Police provided traffic control and shut down Post Road East (Route 1) for the duration on the incident. Westport EMS stood by on scene for rehab of firefighters if needed.

After the gas line was shut down firefighters extinguished the remaining debris that was burning and stood by while the gas company conducted an investigation into the cause of the fire.  The gas main shut down affected three commercial buildings in the immediate area and service disruption was expected to last for several hours to that business.

A total of two engines, a truck company and several staff vehicles responded with a total of 13 firefighters to the incident that lasted until 12:15 when the Post Road was reopened and the scene was left to the gas company.  No injuries or burns were reported.