Firefighters Respond to a Gas Leak at the Hess Refinery

Firefighters responded to a natural gas leak at the in Port Reading earlier today.

The refinery's fire department in the West Ave and Cliff Road complex requested that the Port Reading Fire Department stand by when a leak in an 10-inch natural gas pipeline which supplies a boiler was discovered at around 11 am today.

While the gas line was being repaired, Hess officials requested that Port Reading firefighters be present at the scene as a precaution, said Hess spokeswoman Lorrie Hecker.

Hess' emergency response team was also present at the site of the leak. "The line has been secured and all emergency responders have demobilized," Hecker said in a statement.

The repair was completed at about 1:30 pm, she said.

During the repair efforts, Heckler said "a small amount of vapor was released [into the air], which was carefully monitored and determined not to pose a safety risk."

The NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) wasn't notified of the event because it wasn't required, she added.

County officials said the Middlesex County Hazardous Materials Unit (Hazmat) was not called to the scene. 

The Port Reading fire officials had asked for a Woodbridge engine to join them at the refinery as a safety measure. According to . spokesman Lt. Keith Repace, the Woodbridge firefighters stayed at the refinery for several hours while the pipeline repairs were underway.

Township officials didn't appear to be aware of the pipeline leak. 

"I didn't hear about it. It's a public safety issue," said Councilman Bob Luban. "It's definitely something that someone in the administration [of Mayor John McCormac] should be interested in.

"That's why we're there. That's why we're elected, that's why we're paid. To take care of the town."