Hazmat crews respond to propane tank leak in Suffolk
Talk to anyone who deals with LPG, and they will tell you that we normally see an increase in leaking tanks this time of year. However, I believe we are seeing an increase in these events year after year. One speculation is that delivery businesses are experiencing staffing issues and are struggling to keep up with demand. So drivers may be overfilling the tanks to relieve pressure on the business, but this practice increases pressure in the tanks as the weather warms and the LPG expands. Many in the LPG delivery business believe the 80% rule is too conservative and will intentionally fill residential tanks above 80% to reduce the frequency of visits.
Our backyard grill’s LPG tank(s) will have an Overfill Protection Device (OPD) as required by code; however, many of the 500-gallon LPG tanks have NOT been retrofitted with these safety devices, allowing for the operator to inadvertently or intentionally overfill these larger tanks.
Emergency crews responded to a hazardous materials incident on Wednesday morning involving a leaking propane tank in Suffolk. The call came in around 11:55 a.m. on April 1. When crews arrived, they found a compromised 100-gallon propane tank that was actively leaking. Officials said the tank had been filled earlier in the morning. Due to the severity of the situation, the regional Hazmat Team was called in to assist with the response. Firefighters and hazmat personnel are working to safely manage the leak by conducting controlled flare operations to burn off and empty the propane tank. Crews have set up safety zones in the area and are continuing to monitor conditions. No injuries have been reported, according to officials.