Deputy Fire Chief Phil Lemire said that National Grid was working on Brattle Street when an underground coupling ruptured. Douglas Road was closed from the intersection of Hovey Street to just east of the Janas Memorial Skating Rink. Traffic was blocked on Brattle Street. A strong odor of gas could be detected in the rink parking lot.

Lemire said firefighters knocked on the doors of 14 homes.

"A lot of people aren't home right now, so that's good," Lemire said, adding that the department instituted its Reverse 911 system to notify all the neighbors in the area of the leak.

Lemire felt strongly that the matter was brought under containment quickly, because only a small hiss could be heard emanating from the area where the leak occurred. Police officials were in constant contact with administrators at the nearby Reilly Scool, which was not evacuated. Crews from National Grid worked feverishly on shutting the gas to that pipe but because of the age of the system, which has several gas shut offs, they were having difficulty locating and shutting off the older valves, Lemire explained.

"It's pretty much under control and we didn't feel the need to evacuate the school," Lemire said. "As much as a gas leak pipe shooting straight up in the air so that it can be under control," said Lemire said.