Gas Leak Closes Portion of Burnett Avenue

At 12:35 p.m. the Maplewood Fire Department responded to a call reporting gas fumes in the basement of 8 Burnett Avenue where drilling was taking place outside on the sidewalk.

The FD called in Nutley Hazmat. A firefighter on site also said that a call had been placed to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The property in question is nearby Woolley Fuel. Owner Norm Woolley was outside talking with fire department personnel and the drilling contractor. He said that the drilling was related to development of the future Walgreen's site across the street. All the stores on this small commercial row were evacuated as a precaution.

Maplewood Police briefly closed off Burnett Avenue from Springfield Avenue and Tuscan Road down to Vermont Street. The streets are now reopened and all FD personnel have left the scene. We are awaiting a final report from the Maplewood Fire Department.