Gas leak forces evacuation

Several homes and businesses on Forestville Avenue were evacuated Monday following the second gas leak in two days.

The first incident occurred Sunday, at 3:37 p.m., when the Plainville Fire Department responded to 16 Forestville Ave. Sunday for a natural gas line leak that happened during excavation for a new building. The line was not found nor marked out as it was very old and apparently not detected by staff from "Call Before You Dig," according to Larry Sutherland, town fire marshal.

Yankee Gas responded with its road crew to determine where the shut-off valve was located and made a temporary repair. Police closed Forestville Avenue and West Main Street until the incident was resolved.

On Monday, at 10:08 a.m., the fire department responded once again as the temporary repair did not hold and a much smaller leak was detected. Yankee Gas once again arrived on scene and did find the proper shutoff and terminated the flow of gas.

Forestville Avenue was partially closed. About 25 persons were evacuated from residences and businesses. They were allowed back into their homes at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The site of the gas leak was the new two-story building under construction that will be the new location of Chris's Car Clinic.