Westport's Bravest Combat Oak Street Gas Leak Fire

The Westport Fire Department received a call Tuesday morning for a gas leak and fire in the basement of an Oak Street home. Workers reported that they were removing an old hot water heater and a gas line shut-off failed. 

The escaping gas ignited and caused a fire ball catching some nearby installation manuals on fire, according to a release from the department.

Upon arrival firefighters found smoke coming from the basement in the rear of the house. They entered and found the burning manuals and extinguished them with a fire extinguisher. Heat from the fire damaged a PVC drain pipe and nearby wiring. 

The quick-thinking workers had alerted the occupants to exit the house and shut off the gas supply at a valve on the exterior of the house reducing the fire in the basement to the burning paper manuals. 

Firefighters ventilated the house with a fan and notified the Southern Connecticut Gas Company for a response to verify the gas was safely disconnected to the house.

The Westport Fire Marshal’s Office was on scene to conduct the investigation.