A propane leak at Whitney Avenue-based construction site caused the East Rock block to close to through-traffic and resulted in the nearby residents' temporary evacuation.
The assistant chief of the fire department in that area stated that the leak is currently under control and the locals are allowed to return to their homes as the firefighters burn the leaked propane off while the whole block stays closed.
Meanwhile, while Mark Vendetto, assistant chief of the New Haven Fire Department told the Independent that they received a call at around 9:53 a.m. about the leaked propane tank located at the construction site which was "adjacent to Worthington Hooker School on Whitney Avenue."
The assistant chief added they discovered that the propane tank had frozen the night before, and that morning, as the said tank thawed, its bottom had slightly cracked and that allowed propane to leak out.
Everything Is Now Under Control
Vendetto said, the New Haven Fired Department has already closed off Whitney Avenue between East Rock Road and Cold Spring Street, and that it also temporarily evacuated all affected residents of houses on that particular block Wednesday morning. However, when the local firefighters were able to burn off the propane that leaked through the use of two flaring machines, the affected residents were again allowed to return to their respective homes.
The assistant chief also said that work in the area might take until the following day to finish, during which period, the said Whitney block would stay closed. And the good news, despite what happened, Vendetto said, was that everything is now under control and no was reported hurt.
Important Things to Know About Propane Gas
Propane is a form of gas used in homes for gas logs and central heat, and for cooking through grills and all other applications. As a lot of people use this very effective fuel, it may also have some built-in dangers that any individual using it should know.
More so, improper propane use may lead to injury and death. Also, being aware of the possible dangers linked with explosive gas can help save lives.
Essentially, as a fuel burned for different purposes, it's no longer surprising that propane is extremely flammable. Its buildup an enclosed area or space can be ignited by just even the smallest spark and result in an outburst and fire that possibly injure or even kill those near it.
Furthermore, this gas form is combined with a "leak detection chemical" that emits a foul odor for other people to recognize or identify when the gas is already accumulating in the entire area or room.
Say, one smells gas, he must be sure no lit cigarettes or any other source of fire are in the area (or near it). He must also leave the place right away. Here's the tip: If you know any immediate source of the gas, and you have the chance to shut that source off, do it right away. Then, open the doors or windows to allow the gas to escape.
