Truck Hits Gas Line Causing Over 2-Hour Emergency In Merrimack

MERRIMACK, NH — At 7:37 p.m. Tuesday, Merrimack Fire Rescue and police responded to a business on the Daniel Webster Highway for a report of a truck striking a gas line.

The truck, labeled with Amazon delivery logos, was one of many trucks parked at the location each night. The truck backed into a parking spot, struck the a gas line, and sheered it off. Natural gas from the line immediately started filling the air — and could be heard as the high pressure remained uncontrollable.

Merrimack Fire Rescue notified Liberty Utilities which responded. The crews had a difficult time locating the shut off for the gas line to the property. Firefighters stretched lines and sprayed water streams to prevent ignition. After about two hours from the initial response, the gas to the property was shut down.

Several drivers returning their trucks from the delivery routes were forced to wait for the situation to be made safe.

MFR Chief Matthew Duke said that the high winds help mitigate the escaping gas. He said natural gas travels up; if it had been propane, it would have been a much more difficult situation.

MFR remained on scene for nearly three hours. Firefighters were stretched thin to be able to respond to multiple other calls. Several calls came in during the same time period for trees and wires down.

Liberty Utilities will work to replace the broken gas line.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news