LYNN, MASS. (WHDH) - Fire officials are investigating after a strong odor of petroleum gas overtook part of Lynn late Sunday night.

Crews responding to the area of Central Avenue and Munroe Street worked to pinpoint the source of the potent smell.

“We’ve been dealing with a strong smell of gasoline. We got to stress that it’s gasoline, not natural gas,” Lynn Fire Chief Stephen Archer said. “It’s been throughout the entire Washington Street, Monroe Street, Oxford and Ander Street area.”

Archer says they detected 100 gallons of gas down in the sewer lines, prompting officials to open them up.

Nearby buildings have not received any extremely high readings of gas and no evacuations were initiated.

‘We don’t anticipate any danger to the public,” Archer said. “We are actively taking readings in all these buildings around here, so we’re not detecting any immediate danger to the public. We’re keeping an eye on it. We’re not taking any chances on anything.”

The public is asked to avoid the area as officials investigate.

This is a developing story; stay with 7News on air and online for the latest updates.

 

(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox