UPDATE: Gas leak on Bank Street prompts temporary evacuation

December 10, 2019 11:00 pm • Last Updated: December 12, 2019 7:52 am

By Sten Spinella

Battalion Chief Jonathan Paige, left, and Chief Thomas Curcio, right, of the New London Fire Department and a member of the New London Police Department at the scene of a gas leak Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, on Bank Street between Bank Street Connector and Pearl Street. The Waterford Fire Department ladder truck, background, assisted with gaining access to the tallest building on the block so the roof area could be checked. The Buildings in that area were evacuated as a precaution and checked for gas leaks. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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New London — Shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday night, New London firefighters were dispatched to Bank Street for a report of a gas leak.

When authorities detected a scent of natural gas, businesses and restaurants on the block of Bank Street between Tilley Street and Pearl Street were evacuated, Battalion Chief Jonathan Paige said.

Nobody was hurt. Eversource Spokesman Mitch Gross explained the cause Thursday morning.

"There was an issue with a valve on the gas line that runs under that section of Bank Street," Gross wrote in an email. "It was quickly repaired."

All New London fire department units and 16 firefighters were there. New London firefighters requested mutual aid from Waterford because New London's ladder truck currently is out of service. Waterford's ladder truck allowed firefighters to investigate rooftop heating units.

The evacuation, which Paige said was a precaution, kept people outside of businesses in the area for about 90 minutes.

s.spinella@theday.com

Battalion Chief Jonathan Paige, second from right, and other members of the New London Fire Department at the scene of a gas leak Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, on Bank Street between the Bank Street Connector and Pearl Street. The fire department evacuated the buildings in the area as a precaution and checked for gas leaks. A Waterford Fire Department ladder truck assisted with gaining access to the tallest building on the block so the roof area could be checked. Eversource was called to the scene. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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