Car Strikes Gas Line in Fairfield

Photo by Sayje BenjaminFairfield FFs await the gas company to shut off the line.

Photo by Sayje BenjaminFF Tim Ward and SCG assess the damage to the gas meter
FAIRFIELD, CT - Around 1:25 P.M. on Sunday, July 23rd, the Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center received reports of a car into a house with an active gas leak in the 100 block of Greenfield St. Engines 2, 1 and 3, along with Ladder 2 and Car 3, were dispatched to the assignment. Car 3 requested for Rescue 1 to also be added to the assignment enroute.
Engine 2, under the command of Lt. Jeffery Pinckney, arrived first on scene. Lt. Pinckney reported a single-vehicle accident, no apparent structural damage to the home with the occupant out of the vehicle and no entrapment. An odor of gas in the area was also confirmed.
"We had a vehicle strike the side of the building, unfortunately there was a gas meter where the vehicle had struck, and it created a gas leak," said Assistant Chief George Gomola. "Fortunately, the driver of the vehicle was not injured and was able to self-extricate."
Fairfield Police evacuated surrounding homes as the fire department arrived on scene, in an effort to minimize danger to the public. Engine 2's car fire line was stretched as a precaution, but was not charged. Southern Connecticut Gas arrived on scene and was able to quickly secure the gas line and shut the gas off. Units soon returned to service. The Fairfield Police Accident Reconstruction Unit is investigating the cause of this accident.