Crime & Safety

Fire, Gas Odors Keep First-Responders Responding on Wednesday and Thursday

Northeast School was briefly affected.

Blame it all on some construction material, and, for lack of a better term, a low smelly cloud, but it was a busy 10-hour stretch for Vernon first-responders on Wednesday night into Thursday morning. 

The first indecent took place at 10:43 p.m. on Wednesday, when a neighbor behind the house at 41 Franklin St. noticed a fire at the rear of the structure, Fire Chief William Call said. 

Firefighters responded quickly and the fire was put out shortly after. The house is currently being renovated. Call said the fire does not seem suspicious and it seems that some construction material left near the house is the culprit. He added the exact cause is still under investigation. 

From just before 8 until about 8:30 Thursday morning, fire officials responded to reports of a gas odor at Wellwood Circle, at Northeast School and at 117 East Main St.

All three odors were located outside and nothing was detected inside any of the addresses, Call said. 

At Northeast School, Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway and Police Chief James Kenny were on the scene with administrators from the school.

Conway said a security guard noticed the odor and consulted a custodian.
The custodian then notified school system officials, she said. 

Students were kept on their buses and in their cars while the building was checked. Most of the walkers had not arrived yet. 

Conway said nothing was detected in the building. 

A Yankee Gas crew was on the scene art all three instances. 

Call said it was likely something in the air, due to weather, fertilizer or even a passing propane truck. 


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