MIDDLEBOROUGH — On Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at approximately 12:05 p.m., firefighters with the Middleborough Fire Department were dispatched to the Hannaford supermarket on Merchants Way following a report of a possible gas leak.
According to Middleborough Fire Chief Owen Thompson, when crews arrived on scene, they confirmed that there was, in fact, the heavy odor of natural gas in the parking lot and inside both Hannaford and Aubuchon Hardware.
“Based on the levels of natural gas inside the structures, all the stores in the strip mall were evacuated,” Chief Thompson said in a statement. “Our crews located a gas meter at the rear of the building that had been dislodged from the supply line coming from the ground.”
Middleborough firefighters safely shut down the gas line and began ventilating the buildings. Crews remained on scene while Middleborough Gas and Electric secured the supply line and meter, Chief Thompson said.
A preliminary investigation determined that a snowplow likely caused the meter to become dislodged.
“We were extremely fortunate in this situation,” Chief Thompson said. “The levels of gas in the hardware store were well into the explosive range, and we were able to evacuate and ventilate without any significant issues.”
No injuries were reported, and all crews cleared the scene by approximately 1:30 p.m.
“It’s extremely important, following major inclement weather and at all other times, that residents remain vigilant when it comes to the potential dangers of natural gas,” Chief Thompson said. “If you smell gas, call 911 and we’ll check it out. Always better safe than sorry when it comes to flammable gas and potential leaks.”
