TOPSHAM — Two businesses were evacuated at the Topsham Fair Mall Wednesday night after someone reported the odor of gas.
Topsham Fire Department got the call about the odor just after 8 p.m. from 105 Topsham Fair Mall Road, the location of the new Topsham Care Center medical facility and a Buffalo Wild Wings.
Fire Chief Christopher McLaughlin said firefighters investigated but never registered any readings on their gas meters, though they could smell a slight odor on the roof near Buffalo Wild Wings.
The building is supplied with natural gas by Maine Natural Gas, which investigated as well. After more than 2 hours, McLaughlin said firefighters left the problem in the hands of the natural gas company.
McLaughlin said fire departments and the public are on edge following an explosion Monday in Farmington that destroyed a new office building and 11 homes. The blast killed firefighter Capt. Michael Bell, 68, and injured seven others.
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In light of Monday’s tragedy, McLaughlin said it’s likely that people will be quicker to call when they smell gas, “which is not a bad thing.”
In Jay on Thursday, officials evacuated Spruce Mountain High School when students reported the smell of propane. A technician from Dead River Co. determined the issue was a malfunctioning vaporizer, which turns the liquid propane to a gas, and fixed it. Students returned to the building at 10:36 a.m., about 90 minutes after the incident was reported, Superintendent Scott Albert said in a news release.
McLaughlin reminds people that if they smell gas in the building, usually a rotten-egg smell, get out and call for the fire department once outside. Don’t worry about shutting off lights or appliances, which could cause a spark.
“You won’t want to do anything that’s going to cause an ignition source,” McLaughlin said. “Just grab your stuff and walk out of the building.”
He said people usually smell gas in an occupied building before it gets to the volatile stage.
A lot of commercial businesses in town have natural gas as do some residential neighborhoods. More rural residences may be more likely to have propane service.
McLaughlin recommended those using gas install sensors that detect flammable gas on every floor. The sensors cost about $20 and are plugged into electrical outlets.
With reporting from the Livermore Falls Advertiser.
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