Jan 29, 2009 11:22 pm US/Eastern
Natural Gas Leak Caused Gloucester House Explosion
GLOUCESTER (WBZ) ―
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Officer Wayne Sargent
WBZ
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Surveillance cameras from a store nearby the Gloucester house explosion capture firefighters loading Sargent onto a stretcher after the blast.
WBZ
A natural gas leak caused a house explosion in Gloucester last weekend that seriously injured a 30-year veteran police officer.
Officer Wayne Sargent, 59, suffered serious burns from the blast. He is now being treated at Mass. General Hospital. He is expected to be released on Friday.
State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said the gas leak was from a break in the six-inch gas main in front of Sargent's home on Eastern Avenue.
The explosion destroyed Sargent's home, belongings and killed his dog. The explosion damaged several nearby homes.
National Grid said it has repaired a cracked gas main in front of Sargent's home after the blast. It said it fixed a leak in the neighborhood in late December and made other repairs in followup visits.
Officials assured neighbors that it was safe to be in their homes.
"We want you to be able to go home and get some sleep without concern," said National Grid official John Higgins. "We're confident the system is safe, but there are no guarantees in life."
Some neighbors were still frightened to return home after the blast.
"They can tell me all they want that they're going to repair it or it's fixed, but I can't take that chance," said neighbor Al Millefoglie. "I just don't feel safe."
Coan reminded homeowners to immediately get outside and call the fire department if they ever smell gas inside their homes.
A donation has been set up to help Sargent. Anyone who is interested can send donations to:
The Gloucester Fund, Inc.
45 Middle Street #2
Gloucester, MA 01930
Please write "Wayne Sargent" in the memo of the check, or include a note that indicates that the donation is meant for him.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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