911 tapes released in deadly explosion

SOMERSET, Mass., (WPRI) - For the first time the 911 calls are released in a deadly house explosion in Somerset that leveled a home and left one woman dead.

The city's dispatch center was receiving calls about the odor of gas fumes in the air just over an hour prior to the explosion.

The first call was placed to Somerset police and fire last Thursday night at 5:07 p.m. The caller lived near 93 New York Avenue, the scene of the blast and said, "It smells like gas outside!"

Six minutes later at 5:13 p.m., a fire department crew showed up and told authorities, "Very strong odor, very strong odor. Call the gas company immediately and have them respond here please."

By 5:26 p.m., a New England Gas crew arrived on scene.

New England Gas: "It’s a confirmed leak from the fire department?"
Dispatch: "Yeah."
New England Gas: "Because we were responding to that leak, is that..."
Dispatch: "Correct."
New England Gas: "Yes, okay."
Dispatch: "Yes, so it’s a confirmed leak. I think they said it was in the middle of the road, they can hear it hissing."

One minute later, the 911 tapes revealed a Somerset police officer asked if the street should be cordoned off, but he was told, "No."

At 5:47 p.m., another resident called to report a strong smell from two blocks away. A dispatcher said crews were at the scene. At 5:59 p.m. an officer radioed back with news from New England Gas.

Police: "Control, you may want to make a note to your second car, that the gas company will have that road dug up in approximately an hour or so."

Four minutes later, New England Gas spoke to dispatch about a detail to keep people away from the scene.

New England Gas: "Yeah, you know what? I wanna shut this road down. We have gas blowing right up through the asphalt."
Dispatch: "Okay, definitely. Just, what do you want? One cruiser?"

At 6:07 p.m., the emergency detail arrived, but it was too late to prevent the explosion that happened just a few minutes later at 6:16 p.m.

Rosemarie Rebello, 62, who alone in her house, was killed.

Rebello is survived by two daughters, her funeral is Wednesday morning.