Gas Leak In Westhampton Beach; Pre-School, Businesses Evacuated

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Some Westhampton Beach businesses were evacuated Wednesday after a gas leak on Main Street, officials said.

According to Westhampton Beach Village Mayor Maria Moore, one of the contractors working on the massive $11 million reconstruction and renovation project on Main Street hit a gas pipe.

"There was a leak," she said, adding that the Westhampton Beach Fire Department arrived on the scene and watered down the area; National Grid then came and clipped the pipe to stop the leak, Moore said.

The Westhampton Beach Fire Department said they responded to a natural gas leak on Main Street near Sunset Avenue in Westhampton Beach at 9:40 a.m. Third Assistant Chief Larry Saccente, who was the first officer on scene, reported to headquarters that a gas main had been ruptured at the Main Street construction site and that there was a major gas leak; the department responded with three engines and a fire police vehicle, a release said.

Chief Saccente ordered the evacuation of all Main Street buildings west of the Performing Arts Center. In addition, the staff and children of the Bright Beginnings Preschool were evacuated to the firehouse; the children were escorted there by the Westhampton Beach Police Department and the fire department’s fire police, fire officials said.

The children remained at the firehouse until they were picked up by their parents.

Chief Halsey Stevens assumed command and directed the firefighters to deploy three hose lines and to spray the leak with a fog pattern to help dissipate the leaking gas, fire official said.

National Grid was notified of the leak and sent a crew to turn off the gas, which was completed by 11:30 a.m., after which firefighters checked the evacuated buildings for gas. After their check was completed residents and business owners were permitted to return to their properties, the fire department said.

The Westhampton Beach volunteers were assisted by the Westhampton Beach Police Department and the Quogue Fire Department, which supplied an engine and a fire police vehicle to the scene.

According to Domenick Graziani, spokesperson for National Grid, on Wednesday morning, notification was received regarding a gas odor on Main Street in Westhampton Beach; a National Grid crew found a damaged main caused by an outside contractor not affiliated with National Grid, he said.

"We made conditions safe," he said, adding that the fire department evacuated 120 people from six buildings, including 75 children from the St. Mark's Bright Beginnings pre-school, as a precaution.

No injuries or damage were reported.