LYNN, Mass. — Several downtown buildings have been evacuated after reports of a strong smell of fuel Sunday night led officials to the discovery of over 100 gallons of gasoline leaking into the sewers near a Speedway Gas Station on Liberty Street, according to fire officials.
Lynn Fire Captain Joseph Zukas said Speedway has denied responsibility and said all their environmental readings are normal and there is no leak. Speedway is bringing in its own team to look into the incident, he said.
Several manhole covers have been removed near Liberty and Munroe streets and Central Avenue to vent the gas, according to Lynn Fire, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is the lead agency monitoring the situation.
The odor was first reported around 10 p.m. Sunday with Lynn Fire and a tier-one hazmat called in for air-monitoring purposes. Crews from several different agencies were still at the scene Monday morning.
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Lynn Fire companies currently operating - area of Central Ave. & Munroe St. investingating a strong petroleum gas odor inside multiple buildings & storm drains. A tier one has-mat has been declared for air monitoring purposes. Multiple agencies on scene assisting at this time.
— City Of Lynn Fire Dept. (@LynnFireDept) January 28, 2019
A building at 145 Munroe St. and another at 20 Central Ave. have been evacuated, according to fire officials. There is no estimate yet of how many people are affected by the evacuations or how long it will take before the buildings reopen.
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