Gas levels still "higher than normal"

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - BREAKING NEWS:  Columbia Gas crews informed Captain Cheryl Claprood that they are finding “higher than normal” levels of natural gas readings still underground some of the streets in the area. She did not know which specific streets, but she said it’s a concern as to whether or not there are further gas leaks.

Columbia Gas spokesperson Shelia Dioron told 22News they are continuing to monitor natural gas readings in and around the blast zone, within a couple blocks area.

Today, crews will be drilling holes in some of the streets as a way to monitor and take those readings. So just because you see gas crews working around you does not necessarily mean that there’s a problem.

According to Claprood there’s a meeting this morning of local and state officials at 6:00AM in the parking lot behind the 350 Grill, presumably to talk about these gas readings and to discuss whether or not to expand the perimeter that they’ve established – which is about a three block area.

Right now, Worthington Street is blocked off at Spring and Taylor, Winter to Dwight, Dwight to Bridge, and Bridge to Taylor Streets.

Also today, code enforcement officials have put together five teams to span out across the damage area. Their job will be to access the situation today, and possibly do some controlled demolition to make sure it’s safe for emergency officials to go in and do their investigating.

Sarno has said he does not want anybody coming close to the area and that looting will not be tolerated.

The Springfield Police have called in extra patrols for today.

If you’ve been affected by the blast in any way, there’s a shelter set up at Central High School.

If you have any concerns about damaged buildings, whether it’s your own, or a building near you, code enforcement is staffing two phone lines starting at 7:00 this morning. The numbers are 413-787-6031 and 413-787-6032.