Salem Officials Say Gas Service Restoration Could Take 8-12 Hours

SALEM, NH — A gas line damaged by a private contractor Monday on South Broadway in Salem is causing service disruption for hundreds of customers including town offices and schools, according to Salem town officials. Gas service by Unitil was stopped around 11:30 a.m. after a major gas leak was reported due to the damaged line. While the leak has been contained, the line won't be completely repaired until 6 p.m.

Gas service, according to Salem Deputy Police Chief Joel Dolan and Salem Fire Chief Lawrence Best, will then be restored during the next eight to 12 hours to 325 customers. The town's schools, fire station headquarters, town hall and senior center, will also have their gas manually restored by gas technicians, they noted.

"Thankfully, the weather today is rather warm for a mid-January day, as hundreds of residents are without heat," Dolan said. "However, the cold still poses a concern for many, and we encourage everyone to check in on those who are ill or elderly and may need assistance."

Affected areas include customers on Geremonty Drive, Main Street, North Broadway, Sally Sweets Way, and South Broadway.

"Residents are urged to evacuate if they smell gas," Best said. "If you think you may have a leak, do not try to turn off your gas service yourself and do not turn on any electric devices. Call for help, and wait for a professional to respond to your home."

Anyone who smells gas or believes they may have a gas leak in their home or business should call Unitil's Gas Emergency line at 866-900-4115. Residents with questions or concerns can call the town's Emergency Operations Center at 603-685-6922.

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