WENHAM — Acting Fire Chief Stephen B. Kavanagh, and Police Chief Thomas Perkins report that multiple homes have been evacuated after an underground gas line caught fire and sent a 30-foot fireball into the air.
Police and fire crews responded this afternoon to the vicinity of 45 Cherry St. for a reported fire. Upon arrival, crews observed a plume of fire rising from the street. A preliminary investigation indicates that a utility pole was damaged during the storm, and a live electrical wire arced and ignited an underground gas line.
The roadway was shut down, and homes in the area have been evacuated out of an abundance of caution.
National Grid Massachusetts Gas crews have arrived on scene and will be working to shut off the gas supply. The fire will burn until the gas supply is shut off. Electric crews have also been summoned to the scene to handle the utility pole and live wires that remain on the ground.
No homes or structures have been damaged at this time.
The Manchester, Hamilton and Topsfield Fire Departments are on scene providing mutual aid.
This is a breaking news update. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
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