WHITMAN, MASS. (WHDH) - A massive cleanup is underway in Whitman after a gas leak Thursday sent a large plume of brown dust flying into the air, covering nearby cars and homes.
Crews responded around 8 a.m. to Hogg Memorial Drive after workers replacing a water pipe struck a gas line, officials said.
An incredible cloud of clay and dirt could be seen billowing into the air after the line was struck, but there was not explosion.
“It was like a rust color. At first I thought it was a fire,” Rich Beebe said.
Power and gas was cut to the neighborhood as crews worked to fix the leak. It’s not clear when utilities will be restored to the area.
“When you have a leak of that size, it clears all the rust and dirt out of the line,” Fire Chief Timothy Grenno said. “Because of this, a brown gas cloud covered the south and west end of town and began blowing into the center of town.”
Out of an abundance of caution, Whitman fire evacuated 15 homes on the street.
No injuries were reported. Residents were able to return home at about 10:20 a.m.
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