UPDATED: Gas Leak Causes Evacuation at Colonial Gardens Unit

An elderly couple was moved from their unit to another unit at Colonial Gardens, 105, Cherry Hill Drive, after strong levels of natural gas were detected in two units late Saturday night. One other unit also had a strong odor of natural gas, but it was unoccupied at the time, according to authorities.

Beverly Firefighters found a gas meter buried under several feet of snow. The buried meter was broken, and was the cause of the gas leak, according to Beverly Fire Lt. Robert Atherton. Gas was “free-flowing” out of the pipe. He said it was not clear if snow or ice that had fallen from the roof may have damaged the gas meter.

Firefighters and National Grid shut off the gas meter.

The strong odor of natural gas was detected in a garage area around 11:30 Saturday night. Firefighters checked all the units at the elderly retirement center. Meters detected gas in Units 10 and 12.

Fire crews checked and found other gas meters buried under snow around the buildings, and requested management to clear snow and ice from all gas meters, vents and doors on the property,

Beverly fire officials are asking residents to make sure vents, meters and hydrants are cleared of snow.

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