Fallen tree causes propane leak, evacuation of 17 residents early Monday
A tree fell on a 500-gallon propane tank behind a Garland Street residence, creating a propane leak in Glenmont, forcing the evacuation of residents early Monday morning.
Richland Township Fire Department was first on the scene around 1:45 a.m. and contacted EMA, according to according to Holmes County Emergency Management Agency Director Jason Troyer.
Troyer arrive on the scene around 3:30 a.m. The tank was at 80 percent capacity at the time of the fire department response.
The fire department went door to door evacuating 17 residents to the former Glenmont School building, where fire department staff, Red Cross and EMA specialist Jordan Tschiegg were on hand to provide assistance.
"The Richland Fire Department did an excellent job of responding, doing an assessment of the situation, then evacuating the residents to the school," Troyer said. "They did a great job."
Troyer Gas Co. was brought in to the scene, but was unable to stop the leak because of extensive damage to the tank valves, according to Troyer, who said the tank was transported to a rural field to let it off load.
Once the tank was removed from the residential area, the fire department checked the evacuated basements and found no reading of propane in the residences.
The fire department flushed nearby sewer drains with water before allowing residents to return home.
Troyer reported the incident to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Spill Line, but OEPA said no further action was necessary. Propane is a clean gas and the amount that was leaked was no threat to the environment, Troyer said.
"Hats off to the Glenmont Fire Department (Richland Township)," Troyer added. "They did a very good job of identifying it, keeping their residents safe and communicating with the residents at the school."
Troyer said the scene was cleared at 6 a.m. Monday.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Tree damages propane tank in Glenmont; homes evacuated early Monday
