Eastham Firefighters respond to large propane leak


EASTHAM – On Thursday at approximately 6 PM, the Eastham Fire Department was dispatched to 2320 State Highway (Route 6) for a ruptured propane tank.

The first arriving fire department units found a residential 500 gallon underground propane tank with a rupture near the stem area.  The resident, in an effort to remove the tank, attempted to cut the top valve off with an electric saw with a metal cutting saw blade. When the valve was cut into a vapor cloud of propane started to leak from the tank. The residents stated they were advised the tank was empty, when in fact over 300 gallons of propane gas was still in the tank.

Firefighters evacuated the immediate area and the levels of propane gas vapors were monitored using gas meters. Electric power was shut down to the residence and hose lines were advanced for protection in case of ignition of the propane. Snows propane responded and pumped approximately 300 plus gallons of propane from the tank with firefighters standing by for safety with charged hose lines and extinguishers After the tank was free of propane, the home and area surrounding and the home was checked for remaining propane vapors.

No injuries were reported and all fire units were cleared from the scene at 21:26.

Eastham, MA Fire Chief on large propane leak 5/31/18 from Cape Wide News LLC on Vimeo.

Media release and top photo furnished by Eastham Fire; lower photos and video by Jake O’Callaghan/CWN



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