Boro Police, Fire Respond to Gas Leak and Carbon Monoxide Leak

Chatham Borough officials responded to Chatham Street Thursday afternoon when pavers struck an unmarked water pipe attached to a gas line.

A PSE&G gas pipe leaked gas for a short time after the pipe was struck at approximately 3 p.m. The leak was stopped and the scene was cleared by 3:45 p.m., according to Mayor Nelson Vaughan.

The water pipe was located shortly beneath the road surface and was unmarked. Vaughan said such pipes are "antiquated" and not usually used anymore.

The Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department, Chatham Borough Police Department and PSE&G responded to the scene.

Carbon Monoxide Leak in Borough Home

The Chatham Borough Police Department, Chatham Borough Fire Department, Chatham Emergency Squad and PSE&G responded to a carbon monoxide alarm activation at a residence on Center Avenue at approximately 5:08 a.m., police said.

High levels of carbon monoxide were found in the residence, according to police. It was determined that the cause was a charcoal grill placed inside the garage the previous evening, police said.

According to police, the homeowner thought the charcoal was out but it smoldered all night, resulting in very high levels of carbon monoxide.

Police said the house's six residents evacuated the home before they arrived Thursday morning. The fire department measured "very high" levels of carbon monoxide in the basement and garage area, police said.

The gas to the home was shut off and PSE&G was notified to respond, according to police. Firefighters opened the doors to the garage to ventilate the residence, police said.

PSE&G arrived on the scene and determined that all of the gas appliances were operating properly and the gas was turned back on to the house, police said.

The Chatham Emergency Squad transported all six residents to Overlook Hospital for minor carbon monoxide poisoning, according to police.