Rockland firefighters work with Irving to disperse vapors, drain liquid propane

‘Significant’ propane leak discovered in downtown Rockland Sunday night

Holly S. Edwards
Mon, 05/18/2015 - 9:00pm
Rockland firefighters had to use a combination of water fog streams and ‘flaring,’ shown here, to disperse the propane vapors and reduce pressure to make it safe to drain the remaining liquid fuel and make repairs to the leak. (Courtesy Rockland Fire Department)
A water fog stream is used to disperse propane vapors behind the Trade Winds Motor Inn downtown in Rockland Sunday night. (Courtesy Rockland Fire Department)
Six Rockland firefighters remained on scene overnight Sunday, until 4:15 a.m., working to monitor and mitigate the propane leak behind Trade Winds Motor Inn. (Courtesy Rockland Fire Department)

Story Location:
2 Park Drive
Rockland, ME 04841
United States

    ROCKLAND — Rockland firefighters spent a long night Sunday into Monday morning monitoring and mitigating a significant propane leak behind the Trade Winds Motor Inn downtown on Park Street.

    Interim Fire Chief Adam Miceli said that Rockland Fire and EMS was requested to respond to a reported propane leak at the rear of the hotel at 8:12 p.m. An Irving representative was at the location, having been requested to respond earlier for an odor of gas in the area, according to Miceli Monday night.

    "Upon arrival he found a significant leak between the 1,000-gallon underground tank and the first valve, and immediately called 911," said Miceli.

    The Irving representative was able to slow the leak and when the fire department crew arrived, they began vacating propane vapors using fog streams of water. Meanwhile, an Irving propane specialist team was dispatched from Brewer, and arrived a few hours later.

    Miceli said they determined that the piping was too precarious to attempt to fix or drain the liquid fuel until significant vapor pressure could be relieved from the tank.

    "This involved burning off the gas using a large torch in the city parking lot between Winter Street and Tillson Avenue," said Miceli. "It took approximately two hours to reduce the pressure enough to safely connect to the tank and drain off the remaining liquid propane."

    Six Rockland firefighters spent most of the night on scene, finally leaving around 4:15 a.m. And while they remained at the site, Miceli said other firefighters had to be called in to cover for any fire or EMS calls.

    He said it is estimated that more than 10,000 gallons of water was used to keep the heavier-than-air vapors from accumulating and becoming a fire or explosion hazard. Due to the water supply hoses in the area, traffic on Winter Street, Park Drive and Commercial Street had to be rerouted for approximately six hours.

    Miceli said that at no time was any gas detected in the hotel and firefighters continuously monitored for elevated gas levels throughout the night, while "flaring" the vapors to disperse and eliminate them.

    Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 706-6655

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