Mill Pond School Closed Today Due to Gas Leak

UPDATE: Feb. 18, 2011, 7:05 a.m. - Mill Pond School will be closed today due to the gas leak. A ConnectEd announcement was sent to parents shortly after 7 a.m. The announcement added that grade 4 students who were scheduled to take the NAEP test today will not be doing so.

UPDATE: Feb. 18, 2011, 6:47 a.m. - Westborough fire officials are preparing to leave the scene of a gas leak at Mill Pond School. The gas has been turned off and officials have inspected the building and reportedly found no additional problems.

A repair crew from NSTAR was requested and is reported to be en route to the scene.

Currently, no plans have been announced to delay the start of school

Feb. 18, 2011, 6:45 a.m. - The Westborough Fire Department was called to Mill Pond School this morning around 6 a.m. for a possible gas leak. Upon arrival, investigators initially concluded that a large chunk of ice falling from the roof of the building may have been responsible for knocking the cap off of a gas pipe on the outside of the school.

Investigators at the scene reported that a pipe, estimated to be about 4 inches in diameter, had been leaking gas. It is currently unknown how long the gas may have been leaking. A custodian was the only person at the school at that time.

Upon arrival, fire department officials shut off gas to the building. NSTAR was notified and arrived at the scene by 6:25 a.m.

At 6:15 a.m., school superintendent Marianne O’Connor had been told of the situation. It was decided that more information would be needed before possibly delaying school.

At 6:27 a.m., fire officials at the scene reported that NSTAR estimated a 3 hour window to fix the situation.

It was also reported from the scene that the large chuck of ice appears to have dislodged from the wall of the building and not from the roof, as initially thought.

As of 6:35 a.m., no school delay had been announced. Fire personnel at the scene report the building may be without heat for about 3 hours.