PRESS RELEASE: Firefighters Called to Kennedy Dr. Propane Leak

02/06/2014

PRESS RELEASE

 Firefighters Called to Kennedy Dr. Propane Leak

At 2:36 PM South Burlington Fire Department was called to the area of 125 Kennedy Dr., the Georgetown Condominiums,  for a reported gas leak. Arriving crews noted that the area had a pervasive smell of mercaptan,  an odorant use in both propane and natural gas. Firefighters identified the source of the leak from an underground propane tank, and quickly began evacuating the Chelsea House immediately adjacent to and downwind of the leaking tank. The complex  was cordoned off  to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The occupants of Chelsea House were moved to unaffected buildings in the complex. 

 

The underground tank’s valve housing had been badly damaged when a bucket loader pushing  back snow banks,  came in contact with the valve housing bonnet, dislodging the tank vent and tank fill piping. The 500 gallon underground tank owned by Pryrofax Gas, was full as it had been filled Wednesday afternoon.

 

Service technicians from Pyrofax were able to cap the broken lines and are burning off the remaining contents of the tank by means of a small controlled burn valve,  as this is the safest method to remove the remaining fuel. Propane is used in the complex for heating and hot water. Pyrofax will be installing a temporary gas system for the Chelsea House and occupants have been allowed to return to their homes. 

 

Firefighters remained on scene monitoring the situation and the adjacent buildings for any gas build up until the tank repair was completed at 4:36 PM. There were no injuries or property loss as a result of the leak. The department was assisted by Vermont Gas, Pyrofax Gas and South Burlington Police Department.

 

Propane (LPG)  is a manufactured gas that can be compressed to a liquid state and is delivered to storage tanks in this state. It has a boiling point of -44F and will easily boil off creating a combustible vapor that can be used to fuel heating systems, cooking appliance and alike. The vapor is heavier than air. As such the vapor will sink and travel along the ground and can accumulate in low area such as hollows or basements. It can be easily dispersed by wind currents or water fog from a fire department hose stream.

 

For further information please contact Deputy Chief T. Francis at 363-4565.

 

End

  DC Terence Francis, CFI
South Burlington Fire Department